The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Botswana signed nine agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the State Visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Botswana, aimed at strengthening cooperation and partnership between the two countries and advancing their mutual interests.

The agreements and MoUs cover several areas, including general cooperation, political consultations, the waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports, air services and investment promotion.

They also include establishing an Oman-Botswana partnership on pharmaceutical security, regulatory cooperation, pharmaceutical supply and investment; the joint development of a term sheet for cooperation in mineral exploration; energy security and regional energy development; and a MoU between the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business Botswana, which represents the country’s chamber of commerce, employers’ organisation and business community.

The agreements and MoUs were signed on behalf of Oman by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi; Anwar Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion; Mustafa bin Mohammed Al Hinai, CEO of O-Green; Engineer Matar bin Salim Al Badi, CEO of Minerals Development Oman; and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Balushi of Wathaq Group.

On behalf of Botswana, they were signed by Dr Phenyo Butale, Minister of International Relations; Keoagile Atamelang, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure; Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Minister of Energy and Minerals; Dr Stephen Modise, Minister of Health; Tome Mbaakanyi, CEO of Business Botswana; and Siseko Mashaba, CEO of Botswana Mining Investment Company.

Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said Oman is determined to move forward in strengthening relations between the two countries. He expressed the hope that the agreements signed would be fully implemented and deliver tangible benefits for the Omani and Botswana peoples as soon as possible. He also highlighted the importance of building close ties between the two countries based on mutual trust and respect.

Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, President of the Oman Investment Authority, said His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s state visit to the Republic of Botswana marks a high point in relations between the two countries and would help advance cooperation towards further partnerships.

He noted that relations with Botswana have developed at a particularly rapid pace in terms of the number of projects and investments undertaken and the speed of their implementation.

The OIA President added that the leaders of the two countries had directed their teams to accelerate efforts to expand cooperation into other sectors.

Dr Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, described His Majesty’s visit to Botswana as a historic event. He said relations between the two countries have developed rapidly and have already produced tangible results, including the major solar power project in Maun.

He said the agreements would facilitate and support cooperation between the two countries, with investment focusing on priority economic sectors including mining, energy, tourism and agriculture.

David Kgoboko, CEO of Botswana Power Corporation, said Botswana and Oman are making steady progress towards achieving significant and productive investment in the energy sector. He added that there are major opportunities to export electricity to countries surrounding Botswana, given the substantial energy surplus expected once all the power projects being developed with Oman become operational.

Mustafa bin Mohammed Al Hinai, CEO of O-Green, said Oman is seeking to strengthen investment in infrastructure and energy projects. Following the renewable energy project currently under construction in Botswana, O-Green signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy security that will enable electricity generated by its projects in Botswana to be supplied to neighbouring countries.