The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, held a meeting in Madrid on Thursday 9 April with his Botswanan counterpart, Phenyo Butale, with the aim of strengthening relations between the two countries and addressing the main issues on the bilateral and international agenda. The meeting takes place in the context of the visit to Spain by the President of Botswana, Duma Boko.
During the meeting with Minister Butale, Albares highlighted the progress made on the Africa Strategy 2025–2028, for which 80% of the proposed lines of action have already been implemented. He also emphasised Spain’s objective of strengthening its collaboration with the Southern African Development Community, an organisation headquartered in the Botswanan capital.
Bilateral relations
Minister Albares emphasised the close ties between the two countries, highlighting Botswana’s constructive role in the region and its commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law and multilateralism. He also highlighted the potential for economic relations between Botswana and Spain, expressing confidence that this relationship should be strengthened in the fields of infrastructure and the renewable energy sector. Furthermore, he acknowledged the visible presence of Spanish companies in the country, particularly in sectors such as traffic management, agricultural development and tourism, which are contributing to Botswana’s growth.
Other multilateral and global issues were also discussed, as well as the fruitful EU-Botswana Dialogue, in which Spain is actively involved. This dialogue opens the door to greater support for Botswana’s economic diversification and job creation, which may present interesting opportunities for Spanish companies.
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