According to a note from the Presidency of the Republic, which VerAngola had access to, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, met this Friday with his Botswana counterpart, Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, as part of his first state visit to Botswana. The meeting, adds the note, "served to outline the priorities of cooperation between the two States, themes that were later discussed in the conversations that took place with the involvement of the respective ministerial delegations".
It was during the official talks between both delegations that mobility was identified, more specifically the opening of the air link between Gabarone and Luanda, as one of the areas to cooperate.
According to another note from the Presidency of the Republic, the two delegations "worked this Friday morning in Gaborone, at the Presidential Palace, to follow up and consolidate the aspects discussed in the first instance by the two Heads of State".
Thus, among the areas chosen for future cooperation between the two countries are not only mobility, but also the field of diamonds. In this sector, the country will rely on Botswana's experience with regard to the production, cutting and marketing of diamonds.
Speaking at the start of official talks, João Lourenço took the opportunity to highlight the reforms carried out by Botswana in the field of diamonds. "It was a revolution," he said, quoted by Angop.
The energy sector is also in the sights of both countries. Here, according to the Presidency's communiqué, there are prospects of "supplying electricity to Botswana from the Angolan province of Cuando Cubango".
In terms of fuel, Angola took the opportunity to invite Botswana to "be part of the shareholding structure of the Lobito refinery under construction, an initiative welcomed by the Gaborone authorities".
The livestock sector was another of the areas identified. Here, according to the Presidency's communiqué, the country's cattle restocking "will count on Botswana's assistance in sending embryos and semen".
It should also be noted that Botswana will offer 8000 elephants to Angola, with a view to repopulating Angolan parks, as well as helping Angola with its "expertise" in the development of the KASA Project.
After the meeting, speaking at a press conference, the President of the Republic took the opportunity to express interest in collaborating with Botswana with regard to beef production, as well as in the field of nature preservation, mainly in the management of parks, writes Angop.
In addition, he also announced that the next Bilateral Joint Commission could take place in Luanda, without specifying dates.
In turn, the president of Botswana considered João Lourenço's visit to be "historic". Also speaking at the press conference, Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, took the opportunity to point out that his counterpart's visit takes place at a time when Angola is preparing to host the next ordinary summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and assume the presidency of the organization, having congratulated João Lourenço in advance and left the promise to travel personally to Luanda to mark his presence at the summit, writes Angop.
