15 Dec 2024

The already firm bilateral relationship between Botswana and the Federal Republic of Germany stand to be even more solidified as the two states look for more tangible outcomes from their long standing cooperation.

These were the sentiments echoed during presentation of diplomatic letters of credence by the German Ambassador to Botswana, Ms Gabriela Bennemann to President Advocate Duma Boko at the Office of the President on Thursday.

Ambassador Bennemann said the two nations had a long standing relationship anchored on shared values, which could be strengthened further, particularly to increase the volume of trade between the two countries through investment.

She revealed that she was working with her country’s Chamber of Commerce to prepare a trip for German companies to visit Botswana to explore investment opportunities and areas of cooperation over the next year.

Ambassador Bennemann noted that her country was among the first to establish ties with Botswana and offered support from the period of independence, and although bilateral development aid had ground to a halt with Botswana’s classification as a middle income state, various forms of cooperation had continued.

She said Germany had invested in the development of groundwater resources and also in biodiversity conservation in transfrontier parks in the country, and stood ready to offer any means of support to be identified by the government of Botswana.

Welcoming Ambassador Bennemann to the country, President Boko said that she had arrived in the country in September, during the period of an energised election campaign that would produce the landmark result of the transition from the then governing party handing over state power to the official opposition.

President Boko said Botswana became an example of what an orderly, seamless and joyous process an election transition could be, and the country sought to continue being a positive influence on the world.

He thanked the German government for it's support over the years, which included assisting Batswana to acquire skills, and added that Botswana continued to partner with Germany in areas such as vocational training, trade and tourism.

“Please encourage the people of Germany to tour Botswana in large numbers; we have some of the best safaris on the surface of the earth, nature at its most pristine, most majestic, and our people are warm and kind-hearted,” he said.

Welcoming the Ambassador-designate of Ukraine, Dr Oleksiy Syvac, President Boko expressed Botswana’s desire to see the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict come to an end, and peace restored at the earliest possible time.

He said Ukraine had benefited Botswana and the rest of Africa by being a major producer of grain, and the country looked forward to the restoration of full agricultural production by a post-conflict Ukraine.

Ambassador Syvac on the other hand said his country was willing to share agricultural expertise with Botswana, including private investment to establish production in the country.

He said in addition, tourism, information technology (IT) and education were possible areas of collaboration through the training of teachers and state officials, as well as twinning towns or regions of the two countries. ENDS