28 Nov 2024

In a continued endeavour to strengthen relations and partnerships, President Advocate Duma Boko has used his debut trip to Europe to meet with Botswana’s strategic partners in Belgium, introduce his administration and share posture of Botswana’s foreign policy.

During the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), he said government would refocus the foreign policy to ensure that the advocacy voice was heard in the promotion of human rights, democracy, justice, good governance, peace and security.

He said the capacity of diplomatic missions would be strengthened to effectively advance Botswana’s national interests on the global stage.

Also in the SONA, President Boko said Botswana would continue fulfilling its international obligations and remain committed to memberships in regional and international organisations such as SADC, the African Union, and the United Nations, among others.

While in Belgium, he paid courtesy on the Belgium Prime Minister, Mr Alexandra De Croo.

Botswana and Belgium have bilateral relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two in 1975.

Belgium and Botswana are key allies in the diamond business, with the latter being a leading producer, while Belgium is a renowned diamond centre.

President Boko also led the Botswana delegation and met the De Beers executive team led by the Chief Executive Officer Mr Al Cook in a closed door meeting.

Botswana and De Beers’ relationship comes a long way, - with the world looking at the duo to conclude the diamond sales agreement deal to bring stability in the diamond market sales.

Meanwhile, the President also toured the European Union Council and paid a courtesy on the chairperson, Mr Charles Michael.

The European Union considers Botswana as an important partner at the multilateral level and a constructive ally in the SADC region.

Part of the President’s programme in his working visit was touring the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the Diamond office and Diamcad Polisher after officiating at the FACETS conference. Diamcad is an innovative diamond company based in the Diamond District of Antwerp.

The tour provided an overview of the company and its operations, highlighting the cutting edge technology used to transform high value rough diamonds into certified superior polished diamonds.

Diamcad is known for being the company that polished the famous Lesedi La Rona diamond, which was mined by Lucara in Botswana.

President Boko also held discussions with AWDC and key industry stakeholders on current diamond supply chain, technological advancement and market dynamics. ENDS