Africa-Press – Botswana. Swiss President Alain Berset’s three-day-state visit is a good starting point for identifying new leads to transform Botswana.
This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi during a joint press briefing prior to the Swiss Confederation president’s departure yesterday.
“We have agreed to broaden and to deepen and intensify our cooperation through a programme that will be solidified and developed through Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering a wide spectrum of sectors in areas of health, trade, culture, agriculture, trade and investment, education, mineral development and manufacturing,” he said.
Stressing the importance of health as it cut across all sectors of the economy, he noted that Botswana and Switzerland had signed a declaration of intent in the health sector.
For his part, President Berset said Botswana and Switzerland would broaden their collaboration on health issues since the COVID-19 era had dictated that the sector be given priority.
President Berset said contacts had been made in the business space and hailed Botswana’s positive role in the Kimberly Process saying it was important for networking in the diamond trade.
“It is impressive that Botswana is in the process of diversifying her economy and we are also willing to do that with you and to share our experiences,” he said.
The Swiss president said friendship between Botswana and Switzerland meant a lot especially that the two countries were quite comparable in terms of features and resources as well as commitment to similar ideals on multilateralism, democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
“We meet in a challenging time post COVID-19 pandemic and challenges of aggressive attacks against multilateralism. This has led to a regression in human development,” he said.
He said though Botswana and Switzerland were comparatively small players in the world stage, as tradition conscious democracies and defenders of rights-based international order, they should make the voices of their countries heard.
On Switzerland’s UN Security Council seat for the next two years, Mr Berset said it depended on relationships with Botswana and other countries in the region to bring out common perspectives.
President Berset said he was impressed by the kgotla system which he described as central to grassroots democracy adding that Switzerland had similar principles of bottom up approach to issues and culture.
“This is important for reaching consensus, searching for solutions together,” he said.
Apart from the Tlokweng Kgotla, Mr Berset’s visit also took him to Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital, Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and National Health Laboratory, SADC Headquarters and National Assembly. He also attended the Botswana-Switzerland business forum.
On the sidelines of the heads of state programme, First Lady Neo Masisi and the Swiss President’s spouse, Ms Muriel Zeender-Berset had their own engagements which included interactions with the creative arts community, child-friendly centre at Broadhurst Police Station and Naledi Secondary School arts department.
Meanwhile, Botswana’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva, Ms Athaliah Molokomme has described the visit as successful calling it a new beginning for greater accomplishments that would contribute to transforming the economy.
Ms Molokomme emphasised the importance of President Masisi’s participation in multilateral fora saying they were critical for building relations and advancing the country’s foreign policy aspirations.
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