He said the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has benefited from Cuban technical assistance over the years through the provision of teachers in secondary schools and colleges of education.He said more than 20 Batswana are studying in Cuba in areas such as physical education, computer engineering, sports and veterinary medicine. Matlhabaphiri noted, "Efforts are currently in place to renew the Protocol on Cultural Exchange and Cooperation and this will enable Botswana to receive technical assistance in capacity building for practitioners in cultural development and performing arts".
He revealed that the two countries renewed their Cooperation Agreement on health last August, which has since seen Cuba increase the number of her doctors in Botswana from 71 to 102.He said the list of areas of cooperation is long and broad, adding that they intend to maintain and expand it further. Mathabaphiri concluded, "the celebration of the revolution is therefore as important to Batswana, Africans and indeed the African Diaspora as it is to Cubans". For his part, Cuban Ambassador to Botswana Juan Carlos Arencibi Corrales said he hopes relations between Botswana and Cuba would continue to prosper. He added that his country would continue to assist Botswana wherever necessary to grow their relationship into the future.
