His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik left this morning for the friendly Republic of Botswana on a two-day state visit, in response to a gracious invitation from President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana. Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan during the visit is a high-level official delegation comprising: HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said; Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; General Sultan bin Mohammed al Nu'amani, Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Dr. Hamad bin Said al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority (OIA); Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Ali bin Said Al Kathiri, head of the Sultanate of Oman's Mission in the Republic of South Africa.
A number officials from the Republic of Botswana affirmed that the state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Botswana on Wednesday, has significant strategic, diplomatic, and economic dimensions for Botswana, and will move bilateral relations between the two countries from the foundational phase to broader economic and investment horizons.
Amangoye Madisakwana, Chargé d’Affaires of the Botswana Embassy in Kuwait, who oversees relations between Botswana and the Sultanate of Oman, said that this visit is a historic one for Botswana. Its historical significance lies in the remarkable acceleration in relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Botswana over the past year, which fosters the bonds of friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.
He added that His Majesty’s visit comes at a time when the Republic of Botswana is seeking economic diversification across a number of vital sectors, including mining and energy. Earlier this year, the Sultanate of Oman and Botswana signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of renewable energy, which resulted in the inauguration and construction of a large solar power plant in the Maun region of Botswana.
Temo Donald Ntapu, Executive Director for Export Development & Promotion at the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, said that this visit gives Botswana an opportunity to foster its economic relations and promote economic diversification in various sectors.
