EU Ambassador bids Botswana farewell
| Thursday August 28, 2014 06:00
Ambassador McGovern, who was previously Deputy Head of Mission at the EU Delegation to South Africa, has had a long career in the service of the European Union institutions having also served in South East Asia and the Caribbean. He has also held various management posts in EU headquarters in Brussels in the Development Directorate General.
During his tenure in Gaborone since February 2011, Ambassador McGovern in coordination with EU Member States present in the country (France, Germany and the UK), represented the EU in Botswana as well as vis-à-vis the Southern African Development Community (SADC). In this capacity, he has supervised the implementation of development cooperation programmes in Botswana worth more than 1.5 billion Pula, mostly dedicated to the education sector as well as to health and public sector reform. In addition, support to local NGOs and small and medium businesses has been significant. A similar amount has been devoted to assist SADC Secretariat move forward the region’s integration project. A new programme for Botswana for the period 2014-2020 worth some 400 million Pula was also approved during his tenure and a package worth one billion Pula for regional initiatives in SADC is at an advanced stage of approval. ‘’ The creation of a larger regional market is vital for the long-term success of landlocked, small population Botswana’’ stated the Ambassador at a recent exit meeting with Government.
In July 2014, the European Union and the SADC EPA configuration initialled the Economic Partnership Agreement that creates a Free Trade Area (FTA) between the two blocs. This will allow Botswana to continue exporting its beef and other produce to the EU market quota-free and duty-free. Following the initialling of the agreement, at the press conference hosted by the Botswana Ministry of Trade and Industry, chair of the SADC group, Ambassador McGovern stated that ‘’the new trade regime will enhance the development prospects of the SADC region and lay the foundation for an economic partnership that is lasting and mutually beneficial’’.
The relations between the EU and Botswana as well as between the EU and SADC during Ambassador McGovern’s term in office, where he championed the goals of peace and prosperity for all, have been conducted in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect.
Ambassador McGovern’s successor, Ambassador Alex Baum, currently Head of the European Union Delegation to Malawi will take up his post in September.