Botswana, Turkey must define a new growth trajectory
Botswana and Turkey share the same values and believe in multilateralism and therefore enjoy good cooperation within international organisations such as the United Nations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1981 but the Turkish Embassy was only opened in Gaborone in 2014.
This week, Thursday 29th October 2020 to be precise, Turkey observed the 97th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. It was a solemn occasion unattended by pomp and fanfare given the COVID- 19 pandemic conditions. But it could not blur the mind from recalling the accomplishments of Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the reforms he initiated, which have provided the template and breastplate for the economic and socio- political transformation of the country for successive generations.
Today Turkey is the world’s leading donor country in terms of percentage of national income devoted to humanitarian assistance. The statistics confirm this. Although located in an extremely turbulent region, surrounded by conflicts, terror and human displacements largely emanating from Syria and Iraq, both of which she shares a 1300 km long border with, Turkey has not shirked her moral responsibility to bear the burden of hosting 4 million refugees ( the world’s biggest number), 3, 5 million of which are Syrians.
But it is in her relations with Africa and Botswana particularly that dedicate this commentary. Both countries signed the Joint Economic Commission in 2012 and are presently working on drafting new agreements on education, health, agriculture, military training, diplomatic training and double taxation. And to promote more contacts it has also been suggested to sign a visa waiver agreement for official and diplomatic passport holders.
Turkish Development Agency - TIKA - is currently working on a technical cooperation project on greenhouse cultivation of horticultural products with BUAN. It also donated 17 sewing machines to Botswana Red Cross Society, Tlamelong Rehabilitation Centre this week Tuesday to help the BRC’s ambition of transforming Tlamelong into a vocational skills training centre for people with disabilities.
Obviously these are commendable contributions, but we note with a sense of trepidation, the below par bilateral trade statistics between the two countries. At 3 million USD in 2019 even Turkish Ambassador to Botswana Meltem Buyukkarakas admits it is ‘ still far below their real potential’. We call on the country’s trade and investment promotion agencies – BITC and BEMA - as well as the chambers of commerce – Business Botswana - to rise to the occasion and explore the potential of this alternative market.
Traditional markets have run their course. In the new era of multilateralism and regional integration, Botswana can’t hide behind the excuse of a small population but must exploit the advantages presented by SADC and AU instruments to facilitate trade, attract investment and create jobs.
It is our fervent hope and desire in tandem with those of the Turkish envoy for the Turkey- Botswana diplomatic relations to chart a new growth trajectory on the basis of people- to- people contacts.