09 Nov 2021

 President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi is in Paris, France to participate in the 41st UNESCO general conference after which he will undertake working visits to the UK and Belgium.

A Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation news release says the five-day conference,  which also marks UNESCO’s 75th anniversary, convenes every two years to take stock of progress made on issues related to the preservation of education, environment and heritage.

It says the President will also have a number of strategic bilateral engagements related to foreign direct investment and  marketing of Botswana products.

In this regard, President Masisi will visit Station F, the largest business start-up incubator in Europe, and the Paris School of Jewellery, says the release.

Engagements will include meetings with Senate president Mr Gérard Larcher and UNESCO director general Ms. Audrey Azoulay.

The release says following the UNESCO conference, which ends Saturday, the President will proceed to the UK and Belgium where he will participate in high-level meetings to explore broadening Botswana’s cooperation with the two countries as well as exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

In Belgium, he will pay a courtesy call on the country’s King Phillipe and have bilateral meetings with Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, Mr Jan Jambon, EU officials Mr Charles Michel  and Mr Josep Fontelles as well as 

Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States secretary-general Dr Georges Chikoti.

“In the UK, the President is scheduled to give a keynote address at the launch of 15th Global Prosperity Index, hosted by the Legatum Institute,” says the release.

It says he will also address business leaders and investors at a roundtable on ‘Doing business in Botswana’.

According to the release, President Masisi’ other engagements will include bilateral meetings with members of the UK All Parliamentary Group and Ms Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities.

The President will be accompanied by First Lady Neo Masisi, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Lemogang Kwape; Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe; Kgosi Puso

Gaborone, Ntlo ya Dikgosi chairperson and Botswana UNESCO Commission chair; senior government officials and Botswana Investment and Trade Centre representatives.
The President and his delegation return home November 18. Ends