Botswana’s Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr. Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, delivered a stirring keynote address at the 54th St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland, calling on global leaders to face today’s rising uncertainty with courage, principled leadership, and international cooperation.
Speaking under the event’s theme “Shifting Global Powers,” Gaolathe challenged traditional notions of leadership in a world grappling with geopolitical shifts, economic divides, and fragile alliances. His message was bold and clear: the future must be built on justice, dignity, and sustainability—not dominance or fear.
“In an age of shifting powers and fragile alliances, it is not force or fear that will endure, but the courage to stand for what is just, dignified, and sustainable,” Gaolathe told an audience of global business leaders, policymakers, and young thinkers.
Positioning Africa as a vital partner in shaping global solutions, Gaolathe emphasized Botswana’s journey from a mineral-dependent economy to an innovation-driven and values-led society. He framed trade as a powerful tool for justice, urging equitable and inclusive economic partnerships, particularly among nations in the Global South.
“Our continent is not a footnote in the global story—we are co-authors of the solutions the world so urgently needs,” he asserted, adding that transformation must be shared and inclusive, grounded in integrity and collaboration.
On the sidelines of the symposium, Vice President Gaolathe also met with members of the Africa Association St. Gallen (AASG), a student-led initiative that amplifies African voices in global discourse. He praised the group for promoting positive narratives and cultivating young leadership.
“You are torchbearers of a continent’s hope,” he told the students. “Your voices, your ideas, and your values matter—not just for Africa, but for the world.”
Gaolathe’s participation at the symposium reaffirmed Botswana’s growing presence in global dialogues, bringing a message of ethical leadership, youth empowerment, and partnership-driven progress. His visit highlighted the nation’s commitment to values-based development, showcasing how smaller nations can shape global agendas through vision, voice, and virtue.
