27 Jun 2024

Botswana continues to pave the way for inclusive growth and sustainable development by prioritising value addition locally and leveraging mineral wealth for broader economic transformation.

This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi at the inaugural High Level Dialogue on Comparative Mineral Resources Governance in Africa held in Gaborone yesterday.

He said Botswana was ready to share in its relative success.

President Masisi said the country was a proponent of multilateral, continental and regional frameworks and institutions as they promulgated global, continental and regional development linkages.

“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Southern African Development Community’s Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, all underscore the principle of integrated development at their core,” he said.

Such frameworks, he said, were further reinforced by initiatives and visions such as the UNDP’s Sustainable Development Framework, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s Mineral Development Programme, African Union’s African Mining Vision, and various SADC frameworks, including the SADC Mining Protocol and the SADC Mining Vision.

“These interconnected programmes and visions, regional and international bodies are working in harmony to promote sustainable development, enhance resource management and drive economic growth across Africa. By aligning strategies, sharing best practices and fostering collaboration, these initiatives aimed to address common challenges and leverage opportunities for inclusive and sustainable development in the region,” he said.

The President further said Botswana was poised to share its experiences in various key areas, such as advancing sound mining legislation for holistic national development, negotiating diamond sales agreements to empower mining countries, utilising advanced technologies in mineral prospecting and employing innovation and digitalisation to maximise the value of its mineral resources.

“By offering insights and lessons learned in these domains Botswana seeks to contribute to the collective knowledge and capacities of mining nations, fostering sustainable development, responsible resource utilisation and value creation along the mineral value chain,” he said.

He added that through collaboration and knowledge sharing, countries could enhance socio-economic outcomes, drive technological progress and achieve overall prosperity.

President Masisi said through its strategic policies, Botswana had achieved high rankings in various global mining-related indices.

“In Africa, Botswana stands out, with the Fraser Institute Policy Perception Index crowning it as the top-ranked country. Moreover, Botswana secured the second position in the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index and clinched the first spot in the Investment Attractiveness Index,” he said.

He said such accolades underscored Botswana’s favourable mining policies, investment climate and mineral potential, positioning the country as a leading destination for mining investment and development in the region and globally.

He highlighted that by embracing sustainable development practices and fostering a diversified economy, Botswana aimed to navigate beyond the pitfalls of resting on past mining laurels towards a more resilient and prosperous future. ends