Africa-Press – Botswana. The relationship between Botswana and the European Union (EU) is built on the foundation of shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for a prosperous and secure future, Minister for International Relations Dr Phenyo Butale has said. Dr Butale who was speaking during the Botswana-EU partnership dialogue in Gaborone Tuesday said the dialogue was an opportunity to share ideas on effectively enhancing strategic partnership, to achieve mutually beneficial socio-economic and political development. He said Botswana appreciated commitment and dedication of the EU and individual European states to the country’s socio-economic development and up-liftment of the living standards of its people. “The EU’s unwavering support and partnership not only enhance bilateral relations, but also contributes to regional stability and prosperity,” Dr Butale said.
He said Botswana enjoyed support from the EU in areas such as renewable energy and digital transformation, adding that such was instrumental in advancing the country’s development agenda.
“The recent launch of the EU support to digital transformation strategy underscores our shared dedication to transform Botswana as a digital economic hub, as well as enhance our technological capabilities to create opportunities for our youth and entrepreneurs,” quipped Dr Butale In 2022, EU launched the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme scheduled to run until 2027, which Dr Butale said, was a clear demonstration of EU’s commitment. He said the programme, through the priority areas of Green Transformation, and Economic Diversification and Job Creation would significantly contribute to Botswana’s socio-economic development. EU Ambassador, Ms Petra Pereyra said EU and Botswana were natural partners committed to democratic governance, peace and security, inclusive and sustainable development and a rule-based international order. She recognised Botswana’s constructive engagement in multilateral settings and its commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter. “As a partner we have supported Botswana’s development and accompanied governance reforms for decades. Botswana has a great potential for reaching its ambitions of economic diversification and attracting foreign direct investments, due to its stability and commitment to democratic governance,” Ms Pereyra said. She said peaceful transition of power following the 2024 general election and the strong mandate by the current administration were a testimony of the enduring trust Batswana place in democratic institutions. Moreover, Ms Pereyra said EU’s partnership with Botswana was not only through democratic governance but also built on the foundation with economic growth and shared prosperity. “We are prioritising high-quality infrastructure investment for the benefit of the people, and of the country and the region under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in the SADC region,” she said. Ms Pereyra said EU was also working toward implementing transformative initiatives in key sectors like green transition and digitalisation through flagship programs such as the Global Gateway strategic corridors. She said they also work toward making Botswana a more attractive destination for European investments. “We are committed to raising awareness of the Economic Partnership Agreement to unleash Botswana’s full potential while working with the authorities on improving the regulatory framework and providing a predictable, efficient and transparent environment for doing business in the sectors at the core of the EU-Botswana partnership,” she said.
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