This time around the king has come in his official capacity. It is a pity the Queen has had to go back. It is a rare privilege for the Swedish royalty to pay a state visit to our part of the world and this visit will without doubt cement the good relations between the two countries. Botswana and Swedish relations come a long way. Botswana has benefitted from the Swedes, who since the formative years have contributed immensely to the country's growth.
Sweden has played a key role in Botswana's vocational education. The late Marianne Nganunu, a Swede was one of the pillars of vocational education. In the secondary school system, a lot of teachers who taught woodwork, technical drawing, metal work and even development studies came from Sweden. We are grateful for this service that has indeed catalysed our development. Sweden has also played a prominent role in civil society assistance and empowerment. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) has been synonymous with uplifting civil society. A number of development projects have benefited from SIDA assistance. More gratifying is that much of the aid has helped rural communities and the vulnerable. Although the Swedish agency has relocated to South Africa, Botswana continues to benefit from Swedish aid, albeit minimally. On this particular visit, the King is bringing into the country a strong contigent of businessmen representing some internationally known companies.
