11 May 2024

Botswana has adopted people-centred multilateralism as one of its many development paths, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Addressing Batswana living in Dallas, Texas during a meet and greet session Thursday, the President said it was for this reason that he had made collaborations and cooperation with the global community a priority for the government he led.

Such synergies, he said, had and continued to bear fruits as evidenced by his recent working visit to the United States of America where among others he and his delegation bagged a deal to have Massasechutes Institute of Technology, a world-acclaimed research university with a focus on science, engineering and innovation agree to set up in Botswana.

The second leg of the three-legged working visit took him to New York City where he had a conversation with the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and exchanged views and notes on pertinent challenges affecting the two nations.

While in New York, Dr Masisi also met other thought leaders striving to find lasting solutions to various global challenges and uplift the living conditions of the people.

At this meeting, he said he challenged the conglomerates to rise to the challenge, set aside fears and misconceptions about Africa and vigorously inject money into the continent to scale  up development and improve the living conditions of the people of Africa.

“We want to call a meeting in Botswana where we can engage these multinationals on a conversation on derisk because we want the capital to be cheaper and affordable to us and the developing world, especially in Africa,” he said.

Africa, he said, must speak with one voice and do away with the silo mentality that could only create disparities in developments and create economic refugees who would then put a strain on host countries.

A vibrant economic landscape across Africa according to President Masisi was paramount for robust trade to take shape as envisioned in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).

He shared with his audience that the third leg of his working visit landed him at the 16th US-Africa Business Summit to look for opportunities to forge ties and create networks with like-minded people and companies to scale Botswana’s economy.

“As a growing economy, a forum such as this one is an eye opener to us as a government and to many Batswana companies who can learn best practices and secure a lucrative and a huge US market,” he said clarifying Botswana’s choice of forging partnerships with American companies.

On others, President Masisi urged Batswana staying in America to register for elections and use their democratic right to vote during polls this October.

He however, advised that diligence should be exercised to guard against reversing gains achieved over the years.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape stated during his welcome remarks that the meet and greet session was a platform for the President to meet with Batswana and apprise them on pertinent issues in a relaxed manner.

One of the Batswana living in Dallas, Ms Tswelelo Magosi praised  President Masisi's heroic exploits since assuming presidency  in 2018.

“We are short of words and can only express our gratitude for your exceptional leadership and this is reflected in our country flourishing under your leadership,” she said. Ends