Africa-Press – Botswana. A total of 105 spots have been identified at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) for students from Bahamas. President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says.
He said BUAN and the University of Bahamas had been trailblasers in the two nations bilateral relations by signing a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2023 to enhance their corporation.
Speaking during a state dinner on Tuesday evening hosted for Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Bahamas Mr Philip Davis, Dr Masisi said the MoU between the two universities was followed by another MoU that BOU signed with the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI).
He said the tourism sector was the second largest contributor to the economy after diamonds. Since Bahamas was more advanced than Botswana in the sector, Dr Masisi said the country was eager to learn from them on how to grow the local sector further. He expressed delight that discussions were at an advanced stage for MoU on the tourism sector to be signed.
President Masisi said despite priding itself in having the best safari in the world; with all species of the big five, wild animals in their natural habitat, and the largest growing population of elephants approximating 130 000, the sector was however not immune to challenges.
He said the increasing wildlife population as a result of world-class conservation strategies, there was also a brewing and growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict despite having 40 per cent of the land reserved for wildlife. He said the country had therefore come up with measures to control the wildlife population while ensuring their numbers were not diminished.
President Masisi said the visit was a clear testament to the importance of true friendship between the two countries. He added that the visit spoke volumes on the two nations’ strong commitment to strengthening diplomatic collaborations and cultural ties. He said the commitment was amplified by the signing of an MoU between the countries’ ministries of foreign affairs, opening doors for further engagements on both bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
Dr Masisi said the two nations aspired to attain economic diversification, peace, prosperity and mitigating effects of climate change. He said in recent past Botswana experienced unprecedented climate change of little to no rain in most parts of the country, impacting the agricultural sector.
He said Botswana was committed to combating climate change and its effects, as such implemented several policies aimed at addressing, among others, the impact of climate change and ensure that issues of climate change were mainstreamed into various economic sectors.
Dr Masisi said Botswana had expressed the need to leverage collaborative efforts in mitigating significant climate change risks, secure finance and compel developed countries to fulfill their ethical responsibility in implementing climate solutions. “Botswana will continue to play its part in the fight against climate change and its impact,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Davis said the relationship between Botswana and The Bahamas dated as far back as the beginning of the 20th century when former President Dr Festus Mogae visited The Bahamas in September 2000.
He said his relations and interactions with Dr Masisi on the international fora was testament of a deepening relationship for the benefit of the people, the culture and the economy of the two countries. He said it was important to share issues of common value and of benefit to their people.
He added that it was important to collaborate on a number of spheres such as education, investment, culture, agriculture and sport. “There is so much to learn from each other and I truly believe that a lot is yet to come,” Mr Davis said.
He said he was looking forward to forging multiple pathways for the benefit of the people of the two countries. He added that climate change was a problem to all, therefore, it was important to work together to alleviate its challenges.
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