Tsekoa, Merafhe Sign Agreement on Technical Cooperation

Botswana and Lesotho on April 15 signed a technical cooperation agreement to facilitate the smooth running of the joint commission on economic and technical cooperation established in May 2003. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two  signed on behalf of  their countries.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.Mohlabi Tsekoa said Botswana is a source of inspiration to Lesotho, particularly their long stable democracy and good governance as well as their flourishing economy. The two countries found it necessary to establish a joint commission on economic and technical cooperation in order to help each other, not only in politics and security but also in economic matters.

The sitting, its first meeting since establishment during King Letsie III's state visit to Botswana in May 2003, aims at receiving feedback on the progress of the joint committee of senior officials and determine the way forward, Mr. Tsekoa said, adding that the second sitting will be in Gaborone Botswana next year. 

In his turn,  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, Lieutenant General Mompati Merafhe, said the joint commission was established to identify priority areas of cooperation between the two countries.

"We are developing countries and we should help each other because there is no country that can develop without the assistant of another. Many countries have the tendency to cooperate on areas of politics and security alone, while the technical and economic cooperation is conducted outside the continent," he said.

Lieutenant General Merafhe said the two countries agreed to cooperate in areas of education, gender, communications, science and technology, health as well as trade. He suggested that the joint committee should put more emphasis on clusters such as HIV/AIDS and education.

He also urged his officials to copy Lesotho's success in the textile industry as Lesotho is among the leading developing country in selling textile products to the United States. Botswana's economy is flourishing but the country is unable to create jobs because there are no foreign investors and no industries, he said.

President Festus Mogae of Botswana is on a four day state visit which began on Wednesday, April14.

15 April 2004