Botswana is stepping up efforts to attract foreign investment and deepen international trade ties, following a fruitful bilateral engagement between Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Hon Baratiwa Mathoothe, and Australia’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Matt Thistlethwaite. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting, held from 19–20 June 2025 in Windhoek, Namibia.
During the high-level discussion, Minister Mathoothe reaffirmed Botswana’s strong commitment to building a competitive and investor-friendly business environment. He expressed appreciation for the presence of Australian companies already operating in Botswana, especially in the mining and natural resources sectors, and welcomed their intentions to scale up their activities.
Mathoothe highlighted that foreign direct investment (FDI) remains a key pillar in Botswana’s economic development strategy. “As global diamond markets continue to face downward pressure, our focus on economic diversification and job creation becomes even more critical,” he said, noting that Botswana is actively pursuing partnerships that can drive sustainable growth across new sectors.
In response, Minister Thistlethwaite emphasised Australia’s interest in strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties with Botswana. He acknowledged Botswana’s long-standing reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful nations—an attribute that continues to make it a top destination for investors from around the world.
“Botswana offers a secure, transparent, and stable environment, which is very attractive to Australian investors,” Thistlethwaite noted. “We are particularly encouraged by the opportunities in mining, energy, and related infrastructure development.”
Both ministers underscored the value of continued collaboration through the Commonwealth and other multilateral platforms to enhance trade flows, share technical expertise, and advance mutual economic goals.
The Windhoek meeting comes at a time when Botswana is actively seeking to diversify its economy beyond minerals, with increased attention on innovation, renewable energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Australian investment and know-how, especially in mining technology and sustainable practices, are expected to complement Botswana’s diversification drive.
With growing interest from global partners like Australia, Botswana’s outlook for expanding its investment horizons remains positive. The Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship is expected to follow up with technical working groups to facilitate trade missions and explore new areas of cooperation in the coming months.
