South Africa and Botswana have agreed to increase trade and investment co-operation to fast-track the process of regional economic integration. This emerged after bilateral talks between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi.
This is the second meeting between the two leaders after both became Heads of State this year. Botswana is one of South Africa’s major trading partners in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
President Ramaphosa has described his meeting with Masisi as significant and productive.
“Through this courtesy call renew old bonds, old friendships and consolidate the relations between the two countries. But also lay a good platform for the relations to become stronger towards leading greater success in a number of areas more especially in economic matters. How we can generate greater integration in the economy and also how to strengthen bilateral relations between Botswana and South Africa,” says Ramaphosa.
In his reply, Masisi emphasised the need to upscale bilateral relations between the two neighbouring states.
“I came here not so long after being inaugurated as the fifth President of Botswana to pay my courtesies and deep respect to His excellency President Ramaphosa. We also expressed our desire to take our relations to levels never before reached. In our newness and freshness bring a new resolve to a smarter and faster for the benefit of our people,” says Masisi.
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