The Minister of Minerals and Energy, Honourable Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, welcomed the Minister of Minerals, Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Honourable Mamadou Sangafiwa-Coulibaly, and his delegation to Botswana for a benchmarking exercise on mineral governance and value chain development. The visit provides an opportunity for Cote d’Ivoire to study Botswana’s regulatory frameworks, investment strategies, and approaches to leveraging mineral resources for socio-economic growth. Minister Sangafiwa-Coulibaly praised Botswana for its political stability, well-established mineral legislation, and effective use of mineral revenues to drive development, noting these factors have attracted significant investment to the sector. The delegation’s visit underscores Cote d’Ivoire’s intent to learn from Botswana as it seeks to expand its emerging mineral economy.
Cote d’Ivoire has recently reported major discoveries of petroleum, gas, and gold, signaling a shift from an agricultural-led economy to a resource-based one. The country aims to replicate Botswana’s success in mineral revenue generation, investment attraction, and value chain expansion. Minister Sangafiwa-Coulibaly expressed keen interest in Botswana’s methods for developing downstream industries anchored on mineral resources. He also extended an invitation for Botswana to serve as Guest of Honour at the second International Exhibition of Extractive Resources (SIREXE) scheduled for November 2026 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. This invitation highlights Botswana’s reputation as a leader in responsible mining and resource management.
Honourable Minister Kenewendo accepted the invitation and affirmed Botswana’s commitment to sharing expertise with Cote d’Ivoire. She emphasized that Botswana’s 58 years of mining experience offers valuable lessons in negotiating mineral agreements, developing traceability technologies, and maximizing socio-economic benefits from resource extraction. Minister Kenewendo also highlighted the potential for collaboration in the development of Cote d’Ivoire’s newly discovered petroleum resources. Botswana’s participation at SIREXE will provide a platform to showcase best practices and foster deeper cooperation between the two countries’ mining sectors.
During the visit, the Cote d’Ivoire delegation will tour key entities involved in Botswana’s mining industry. These include the Minerals Development Company Botswana, Botswana Geoscience Institute, Debswana Jwaneng diamond mine, Naledi Mining Services Company, and the Diamond Trading Company Botswana. The visits will provide insight into Botswana’s operational standards, governance structures, and approaches to value addition. This hands-on exposure is expected to guide Cote d’Ivoire in establishing effective governance and investment models for its mineral resources.
The benchmarking exercise reinforces Botswana’s role as a regional leader in sustainable mining practices. By sharing knowledge and expertise, Botswana supports other African nations in maximizing the benefits of resource development. The collaboration between Botswana and Cote d’Ivoire also highlights opportunities for partnerships in mineral and petroleum sectors, creating potential for joint ventures, technology transfer, and capacity building. These efforts align with broader regional goals of responsible resource management, economic diversification, and value chain development. Through strategic engagement, Botswana continues to strengthen its influence as a model for governance and investment in Africa’s extractive industries.
