Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, who is also the Minister of Finance, is currently in Tokyo, where he sold the country’s ambitions to the Asian economic power. In an endeavour to navigate the country from reliance on diamonds, Botswana has invited Japanese investment and expertise to support projects that have been carefully tested for their sustainability, bankability and capacity to drive inclusive growth. Gaolathe spoke at a recent conference in Japan about the launch of the Botswana Transformation Programme, a bold national initiative aimed at steering the country towards becoming a digitally enabled, diversified, export-led, high-income economy. “Our true north is a Botswana where every citizen is employed, empowered, and fulfilled,” he said at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). He added the programme places strong emphasis on pursuing opportunities in agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, the creative industry, manufacturing, financial services, and digital innovation. Botswana sees Japan as a natural partner in this journey, not only for its technological advancement and financial capacity, but also for its values of respect, excellence, and community. “Japan’s greatest asset is not just its resources and hi-tech sector, but its people—their character and sense of respect. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba embodies these qualities, and it is what draws us, and the rest of Africa, to Japan,” he affirmed.
The proposed areas of collaboration include sustainable transport systems, modern energy grids, water and food systems, tourism development, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and universal health coverage. This also extends to vaccine production and disease surveillance, which are viewed as critical to safeguarding the dignity of life. By aligning with Japan, Botswana hopes to accelerate its economic transformation programme, diversify its economy, and restore dignity and opportunity to its people Co-organised by Japna, the United Nations, UNDP, the World Bank, and the African Union, TICAD provides a platform for dialogue on Africa’s development agenda, with a focus on strengthening partnerships that advance investment, innovation and sustainable growth. This year’s theme, ‘co-create innovative solutions with Africa,’ underscored the role of collaboration in driving economic growth, stability and social progress. For Botswana, the conference aligns with national priorities in economic diversification, human capital development, infrastructure and regional integration under AFCFTA.
