Dhaka, 10 February 2023:
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs met with the Business Botswana chamber which is the federation of all chambers and business bodies of Botswana at their office in Gaborone yesterday (09 February 2023).
While welcoming the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Chief Executive Officer of Business Botswana said that cooperation may be forged in different areas of trade and investment between Bangladesh and Botswana. He briefed the visiting Bangladesh delegation about the facilities of investment in Botswana. He maintained that textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather, non-leather shoes, agro and food processing could be very potential sectors of investment by Bangladeshi investors. He said that the Bangladeshi investors can reach out to SADC countries and avail AfCFTA facilities once they invest in Botswana. He underlined the need for close cooperation between the businessmen and chambers of the two countries.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs briefed the Business Botswana about the leading industrial sectors in Bangladesh. He mentioned that textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, IT and ICT Industries of Bangladesh which have a good export market abroad. He stated that Bangladesh and Botswana may forge cooperation in pharmaceuticals, textiles and other sectors. He particularly referred to contract farming as a potentially beneficial sector which would contribute to food production and food security areas. The State Minister mentioned that Bangladeshi entrepreneurs already invested in some African countries in textiles and pharmaceuticals sectors.
At the meeting, the Bangladesh side expressed readiness to extend technical knowledge in textiles to the Botswanan side in the required area. It was also discussed that business delegations on textiles, pharmaceuticals and other sectors will visit Bangladesh from Botswana in order to share knowledge and experience in the sectors. The State Minister invited the Botswanan business persons and entities to participate in the 50th anniversary of the FBCCI to be held in March 2023. The Botswanan Business Chamber agreed to conclude the MoU in cooperation with FBCCI the draft of which is under discussion between both apex chambers, through a virtual meeting in the near future.
The State Minister is on a two-day bilateral visit to Botswana. The Bangladesh delegation comprises the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to South Africa and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.