26 Feb 2025

President Duma Boko says he trusts that Botswana and Colombia will develop a working relationship that will raise a profile of collaboration between the two countries.

President Boko made the remark in Gaborone on Tuesday, when receiving Letters of Credence from the newly appointed envoy from Colombia.

With cordial relations, dating as far back as 1989, President Boko said Botswana and Colombia would work together to broaden the relations by ensuring  completion of agreements and exploring other areas of common interests.

“We need to initiate completion of affected relations agreements and put together other collaboration packages,” he added.  

Presenting her Letters of Credence, the Ambassador-Designate of Colombia to Botswana, Ms Maria del Rosario Mina-Rojas said Botswana and Colombia could have a meaningful and effective relationship, since they shared common values and democratic principles.

“Columbia wants to make concrete relations with Botswana, so our two countries can discuss and explore all areas of cooperation,” she said.

President Boko also welcomed the Ambassador-Designate of Italy to Botswana, Mr Gabriele Philip Annis and congratulated him on his appointment, saying “we look forward to the relations, more collaboration in other areas and I trust we will continue good relations.”

Botswana and Italy, the President said, had previously collaborated in a number of area, citing Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital as one of the local institutions that received help from Italy.

For his part, Mr Annis also said Italy would continue the excellent relations it had shared, for a long time, with Botswana to ensure the two nations achieved more together.

“There are a few agreements that our two nations need to unlock, especially on the field of environmental protection, tourism and defence. We are eager to work together with your government and I trust that we are the right people to make it happen,” he said.

Mr Annis, therefore, called for a business forum to be held to share and exchange best practices on how best to diversity the two countries ‘economies.

He conveyed his condolences to Botswana for the recent tragedy the country had suffered due to flood. He also congratulated Botswana for signing a new sales agreement for rough diamond production with the De Beers Group. ENDS