03 Jun 2024

Botswana will look to access strategic opportunities presented by this week's inaugural Korea-Africa Summit, with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi due to lead the country's effort to build and solidify economic and development partnerships at the event.

This was revealed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Lemogang Kwape in an interview with BOPA at the Republic of Korea's capital Seoul over the weekend, where President Masisi arrived yesterday to lead Botswana's delegation to the Summit.

The Republic of Korea, less formally but more popularly known as South Korea, one of the world's most industrialised nations, the world's 14^th largest economy by gross domestic product (GDP), home to major global brands including Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Kia among others, is hosting 48 African states this week for the summit, and Botswana has compelling interest in participation.

“The summit aims for Korea and the African continent to unite towards sustainable development partnership and mutual economic growth. President Masisi has made it a priority for his government to drive Botswana towards a knowledge based economy, and Korea has been a world leader in this regard, in research and innovation, Information Communications Technology (ICT) and environmental protection, something we want to leverage on,” Dr Kwape said.

He noted that Botswana and South Korea had long standing bilateral diplomatic ties which he said government now sought to strengthen towards stronger economic collaboration.

“We have development projects in our country that were done with Korean companies, including Kazungula Bridge, Serowe-Orapa Road, and some of our major waterworks. They are technologically advanced in ensuring leakages in water pipelines are fixed and prevented- one the challenges we still need to address. They are also leaders in the field of education, particularly vocational training, and we would want to explore how Batswana could benefit,” Dr Kwape related.

Furthermore, as Botswana seeks to grow its economic base, Dr Kwape said the country's delegation would advance the course of partnership through side meetings, among them due to include President Masisi meeting South Korea President Mr Yoon Suk Yeol, and official interaction with Korean business and academic institutions.

“The official opening day of the summit will involve discussions on Korea-Africa political and development partnership, followed on the second day by exploring business potential, with Korean companies, among them the biggest in the world interacting with Aftican states,” Dr Kwape said.

He said Botswana being a major diamond producer while South Korea, a large consumer of luxury goods such as jewellery; Botswana having abundant sunshine with South Korea having advanced solar renewable energy technologies, are some of the factors that laid  the ground for mutually beneficial trade between Gaborone and Seoul. ENDS