Botswana: Report to Help Promote Botswana Gaborone — The European Times Botswana 2014 Report will go a long way in shining a spotlight on Botswana and the opportunities that exists for investment, partnership and cooperation. The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is also the Minister of Education and Skills Development, said this when officiating at the launch of the economic and investment publication on November 19. The European Times Botswana 2014 Report, Mr Masisi said, was a quality report, because the researchers spent a good amount of time in the country to fully understand the facts, the figures and the institutional structures that made Botswana what it was. Interviews were conducted. But, the European Times also had time to study and observe in order to validate what they were told. I am particularly pleased that the publication is a result of close operation between the government of Botswana and the European Times, he added. Mr Masisi commended President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama for setting the tone and stating the national development agenda in the document, saying his message was substantive, coherent and clear. He also applauded all government institutions that contributed in the generation of the report. This, he said was a practical demonstration of their readiness to deliver as one unit on Botswanas economic diplomacy. To investors, Mr Masisi said Botswana was certainly open for business and welcomed the support extended by the High Commissioner of South Africa, Executive Secretary of SADC, Ambassadors of the European Union and France, Representative of the United States of America and the United Nations coordinator and UN Resident coordinator. As a country and government, he said it was Botswanas prime responsibility to put in place the necessary legislation, the proceeds and administrative policies to enhance the ease of doing business in the country. We have done so, and we will continue to do so. Improvements we will make where due and necessary. I am also convinced that we have created an environment conducive to private sector development, including private direct foreign investment, he added. This, he said, should not stop there, adding that Botswana should always be ready to improve if need arises. He said the country should also continuously be outward looking and see itself as being at the centre of Southern Africa as a whole, which as a fact it is. Botswana, Mr Masisi said was committed to working together with neighbouring states, as its prosperity depended on their prosperity. This too, he said was enshrined in the countrys foreign policy. We value our partnerships and cooperation with the EU within the framework of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and European Union Continua Partnerships Agreement. This is why we have been negotiating and now initiated a full economic partnership agreement, as the SADC Equal Groups of States, he said. The launch of this economic and investment report, Mr Masisi said was a sign that government was now focusing on priority four whose strategic objective was to stimulate economic growth that reduces poverty, create decent jobs and mobilise entrepreneurial potential of people, particularly the youth and women, in a sustainable manner. Other objectives, he said was to support development of private sector and SMMEs, support the continental integration process possibly through accelerated infrastructure development, energy, industrialization and investment. At a global level, he said the Botswana government attached utmost importance to the role of UN, which was to promote social and better standards of life in larger freedom. United Nations, he said, also had a pivotal role in promoting effective global cooperation and the development of developing countries. It is our hope that the instrumentality of the UN will be deployed in shaping the post 2015 development agenda, he added. BOPA Source : BOPA
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 21:39:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015