In a historic development, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will arrive in Botswana tomorrow, marking India’s first Head-of-State visit to the country in 59 years of diplomatic relations.
According to a press statement from the Office of the President (OP), Murmu's visit aims to strengthen Indo-Botswana relations “...and further explore areas of enhanced cooperation in health, education, agriculture, mining, trade, and investment”.
President Murmu will arrive in Botswana from Angola, and whilst in the country, the Indian President will hold bilateral talks with President Duma Boko and address the National Assembly.
The delegation will also visit Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB), the Three Chiefs Monument, and Mmokolodi, where Botswana has gifted India eight cheetahs.
“Having established diplomatic relations in 1966, Botswana and India enjoy friendly relations across various sectors of the economy. This strategic partnership has resulted in a number of milestones, particularly in the diamond industry, and India remains one of Botswana’s biggest diamond buyers,” further reads the statement.
India’s last high-level visit to Botswana was by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu from October 31 to November 2, 2018. Before that, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari paid an official visit in January 2010.
