Botswana: Botswana has the capacity to attract Japanese investors to Botswana and be the lead exporter of various sectors, especially auto parts and upholstery.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Mmusi Kgafela, said this when he met Ohmori Setsuo, Ambassador of Japan to Botswana. Minister Kgafela said Botswana and Japan have no trade agreements. Therefore Botswana’s exports to Japan face higher import duties than any other country that has preferential trade agreements with Japan, rendering Botswana’s exports to Japan uncompetitive.
He said this status quo has to change. Kgafela advocated for collaborative capacity-building exchange programmes in the Government and private sector by Japanese companies in various fields.
He further noted that in 2010, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) extended technical assistance to Botswana for the modification of Morula products with the aim of producing dried fruit snacks that could be sold in supermarkets in Japan. JETRO also helped to facilitate the entry into the Japanese market of some Botswana products, such as baskets and tapestry.
For her part, the Assistant Minister Honourable Beauty Manake said since Japan is ranked 3rd in automobile manufacturing in the world, they can come and set up shop in producing electric cars in Botswana since the Government is opening up opportunities for that industry.
The deal between Japan and Botswana started with a bilateral meeting that held with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Park Jin.
The two Foreign Ministers had fruitful discussions, where they exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and expressed their commitment to strengthening the relations between the two countries.
The minister and his delegation also visited the Saemaul Undong project and met with the president of the Korea-Africa Foundation on the same day.