KEYNOTE ADDRESS H.E. MS. GLADYS T.K. KOKORWE HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA TO MAURITIUS

Transcription

1 KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY H.E. MS. GLADYS T.K. KOKORWE HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA TO MAURITIUS ON THE OCCASION OF THE BOTSWANA BUSINESS SEMINAR HOSTED BY ENTERPRISE MAURITIUS PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS 7 TH OCTOBER 2013

2 The Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Mauritius, Mr. Dev Chamroo, The Managing Director of the Mauritius Board of Investment, Mr. Ken Ponoosamy, Distinguished Members of the Business Community, 1. Let me begin by thanking Enterprise Mauritius for the warm reception given to me and my staff, as well as for the generous hospitality extended by hosting this event. 2. The respective principals of Enterprise Mauritius and the Board of Investment, Mr. Chamroo and Mr. Poonoosamy, have delivered very informative and insightful statements and I thank you both for that. 3. The purpose of our being here is to exchange views and to learn from each other about what our respective countries have to offer in the area of trade and investment. 4. In the African context, and indeed by any standard, Botswana and Mauritius are two countries with a long track record of sound economic management and democratic governance. 5. Moreover, our two countries have maintained policies that are conducive for the thriving of entrepreneurship and private investment. 6. Because of the achievements and experience of our two countries in this regard, much is expected of us by our people, by Africa, and indeed the rest of the world. 2

3 7. These expectations include the continued promotion of prosperity through economic modernization, innovation, diversification and the adoption of sustainable practices in these endevours. 8. You may be aware that in the near future, our two countries are expected to sign a General Framework Agreement for the purpose of further cementing our economic and trade relations and cooperation. 9. The implementation of the Agreement would be placed in the hands of a Joint Business Council to be co-chaired by our respective Ministers responsible for international trade. 10. The Joint Business Council will comprise of representatives of various relevant Ministries as well as from the private sector. 11. The Council will have the role of taking forward our cooperation in the area of trade and investment. 12. Needless to say, the existence of such inter-governmental policies and frameworks alone is not a guarantee that the desired outcomes will be achieved. 13. It will therefore continue to be very important for our respective business communities to be well-informed and intimately involved in the operationalization of this envisaged Agreement. 14. Botswana views the business community as the foot-soldiers of the development process who should be duly and adequately facilitated in order for them to achieve optimum results. 15. This, is the reason why initiatives such as this Workshop are important. 3

4 16. It is our wish that Government agencies charged with the responsibility of deepening and widening trade and investment across borders should be able to interact with stakeholders at the micro level in order to share information on experiences, opportunities and challenges. 17. In accordance with its mandate of promoting Trade and Investment, the Botswana High Commission to Mauritius is happy that Enterprise Mauritius agreed to deploy its good offices and resources for the convening of this event. 18. From the very onset, the response of Enterprise Mauritius to our interest in holding this event was swift and efficient. 19. I once again thank the Chief Executive Officer and his staff for organizing this workshop in such an excellent manner. 20. I have with me here two officers from the Botswana Trade and Investment Centre (BITC), the agency of the Government of Botswana responsible for promoting and facilitating trade and investment. 21. Mr. Omphitlhetse Bobo Senosi is the representative of BITC based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His main focus is to coordinate the roll out of BITC programmes in the SADC region. Mr. Senosi will share with us an overview of the trade and investment climate in Botswana and the opportunities available. In doing so, he will also brief you on the role of BITC in facilitating trade and investment in Botswana. 22. Mr. Dipopego Julius Tsheko will then give a presentation on the Global Expo Botswana 2013 to be held in Gaborone from the 20 th to 23 rd November Mr. Tsheko is the Project Manager of the Global Expo Botswana. 23. The Expo is an annual business to business trade forum that attracts exhibitors and visitors from a diverse range of industries and countries, with the aim of facilitating intra-regional trade, promotion of joint ventures between local and foreign based enterprises, attraction of the very much 4

5 desired foreign direct investment (FDI) into Botswana, and the promotion of exports of goods and services produced by companies which have set up in Botswana. 24. It may be imperative for me to inform you, that this year s Global Expo Botswana will have, for the first time, a trade and investment conference to be held under the theme of Creating Opportunities for a Changing Business Landscape. The conference is expected to attract at least five high level speakers from various countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique and Namibia. 25. Furthermore, there will be speakers from the Botswana public and private sectors, as well as more than 200 delegates from Botswana and the rest of the world. This envisaged conference will be free of charge to the delegates, and is aimed at sharing views on economic and entrepreneurial cooperation between Botswana and the SADC region (including Mauritius), and indeed, the rest of the world. 26. Mr. Tsheko will include in his presentation an open invitation to you all to come to the Global Expo, whether as exhibitors, conference delegates, or even as visitors. Distinguished 27. It may be of interest to you to know that BITC was established in April 2012 through the merger of the then Botswana International Financial Services Center (IFSC) and the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA). 28. It was not by a stroke of fate that in 1997, BEDIA was established under the leadership of the founding CEO Mr. Chand Bhadain, a national of Mauritius. 29. Mr. Bhadain served in that capacity until 2002 and has left behind an active and focused organization whose work is now yielding results. 5

6 30. This is just one of many examples of the contributions made by Mauritius and Mauritians to the development of Botswana. 31. At this juncture, let me thank everyone who found the time to honour the invitation to this event. I wish you all fruitful deliberations. 32. I wish to conclude my remarks by once again paying tribute to the CEO of Enterprise Mauritius, Mr. Chamroo, for all his efforts, now and in the past, in promoting greater engagement between Botswana and Mauritius stakeholders in the area of trade and investment. 33. You are indeed a true friend of Botswana. 34. I Thank you all for your attention, PULA! 6