Africa-Press – Botswana. As Botswana looks to grow animal vaccine production and develop a manufacturing base, the country will consider setting up Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) operations in Malawi, President Advocate Duma Boko has said.
Making his remarks to the bilateral meeting between Botswana and Malawi in Lilongwe on Saturday, President Boko said the state-owned veterinary solutions manufacturer BVI, which produced animal vaccine and exported to 16 countries, could expand its footprint to the Malawi market.
“BVI exports their manufactured vaccines that combat anthrax, rabies and other animal diseases to countries that now include South Africa. We will consider exporting to Malawi and possibly have a BVI outpost here for ease of access,” he said.
President Boko further emphasised the importance of strengthening intra-Africa trade.
“Africa faces many challenges, some of them self-inflicted by us the leaders and citizens. We should honestly introspect and find solutions, we need robust intra-Africa trade, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement presents an opportunity. We should enter the Malawian market and Malawi should reach out on any opportunities they see in Botswana,” President Boko said.
He further revealed that during his tête-à-tÄ›te with his host, Malawi President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera, they had agreed that the two countries should work on establishing embassies in each other’s capital to cement the diplomatic relations established since 1966.
“We need to bring tangible outcomes to our relationship. Over the years Botswana has developed expertise in mining extraction. Now that Malawi is moving into the mining space, we could share the expertise of our people,” President Boko said.
Such mutually beneficial partnerships could have the effect of transforming the African continent towards prosperity, he mentioned.
“We need value addition of minerals and their products for the benefit of our citizens. We will liberate Africa from poverty, one country at a time,” President Boko said.
Concurring with these sentiments, President Chakwera said he and President Boko were of a similar view that the two states must collaborate toward meeting the challenges of the 21st Century.
“This we will do by growing trade between our two countries and cooperate in other areas such as mining, education, tourism and cultural exchange,” President Chakwera said.
He added that the visit ignited talks towards the revatilisation of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation between Botswana and Malawi, which he said he would convene soon, to become a vehicle to actualise the proposed areas of cooperation.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
