25 Mar 2025

President Advocate Duma Boko has reaffirmed government’s commitment to forming partnerships with reputable institutions to enhance the welfare of citizens and drive economic benefits.

Speaking during a courtesy meeting  with Sir Tony Blair, the Executive Chairperson of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) in Gaborone yesterday, President Boko highlighted the significance of collaboration with global entities like TBI, emphasising its importance in transforming Botswana’s governance and economic landscape. 

He said that Sir Tony’s  visit provided an opportunity to assess how TBI could support Botswana in accelerating economic transformation, enhancing governance efficiency, and modernising public service delivery through technology-driven solutions.

The meeting follows a bilateral discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January  and aims to explore potential areas of cooperation to aid the government in achieving its national development objectives.

“The scoping mission established a robust platform for engaging with key stakeholders in the Botswana government, understanding the country’s priorities, and exploring how the Tony Blair Institute can provide impactful support,” President Boko stated.

He identified several critical areas for collaboration, including economic diversification, trade promotion, digital transformation, healthcare, and energy sustainability. Botswana’s long-term development goals align with the proposed partnerships, which could result in substantial policy and economic impact.

President Boko underscored the need for assistance in developing an energy sector strategy, securing renewable energy financing, and promoting mineral diversification and industrialisation, along with facilitating investments. 

He acknowledged ongoing challenges in the diamond industry, which he cited as a barrier to the country’s economic growth.

As Botswana moves toward economic diversification away from its reliance on diamonds, President Boko stressed the importance of dialogue on energy diversification and sustainable mineral sector development. 

“We are in the process of diversifying our economy from reliance on diamonds, thus the need to improve our infrastructure to move products from pit to pot. 

We are actively seeking private sector investment in our rail infrastructure and other developmental projects,” he said.

President Boko expressed optimism that TBI could assist Botswana in implementing policy reforms aimed at expanding access to global markets, including leveraging the Trade Worldwide Information Network (TWIN) to better integrate the nation into continental and global commerce.

For his part,  Sir Tony Blair commended  Botswana for its clear vision and expressed TBI’s interest in playing a meaningful role in transforming that vision into reality. ENDS