Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana has potential to be a net export of solar energy, hence the assistance of the EU through mobilisation of potential investors’ remains paramount, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Lemogang Kwape has said.
The minister singled out SMARTBOTS as a signature Botswana–EU partnership project which aimed to ensure digitalisation transformation in the country.
During official talks on bilateral relations between Botswana and EU on Saturday, Dr Kwape said a comprehensive Botswana–EU partnership would assist in strengthening the country’s systems to develop critical sectors, including health, education, transport and renewable energy through innovation, research and digitalization.
He said Botswana’s modern institutions; Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Botswana Institute for Technology Research Innovation, and Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH), among others were ready to partner with European institutions.
Dr Kwape said partnership would be ideal in projects and programmes aimed at promoting sustainable economic development in the country and Africa at large.
The minister informed EU delegates that Botswana desired to benefit from the Green Deal and Horizon Europe through tailored financial products for energy efficiency, access, innovation and renewables.
He said Botswana Vaccine Institute demonstrated the capability to grow the pharmaceutical sector through Greenfield investments as such government would like to take advantage of Team Europe Initiative manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies.
“Botswana Harvard Aids Institute partnership, which is a leading HIV/AIDS research, training and capacity – building institution, is one other case in point that proves our capability to host sophisticated industries,” he said.
Therefore, he said the visit by EU delegation to Botswana was vital especially in exchanging views on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
EU representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission (HRVP), Mr Josep Borrell said the purpose of the visit was to engage on high-level discussions of how to strengthen and cooperate not only on bilateral, but also regional and multilateral levels.
He said their agenda included how they could support Botswana in terms of economic diversification, sustainable energy and digitalisation, as well as to exploit the existing potential for increasing and diversifying exports to the EU.
He congratulated Botswana on securing endorsement for hosting the future Kimberley Process (KP) secretariat in Gaborone, citing that they looked forward to working with Botswana and KP members on ensuring that the Kimberley Process did not lose its credibility in the light of the Russian war against Ukraine.
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