Japan-Botswana Relations
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister ISHIBA by Vice President Gaolathe of Botswana
August 20, 2025
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On August 20, commencing at 4:50 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from His Honour Mr. Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, who is visiting Japan to participate in the in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). The overview of the meeting is as follows:
- At the outset, Prime Minister ISHIBA referred to the peaceful and smooth transition of power following last year's general election, the first since its independence, expressed his respect for Botswana's stable democracy. In response, Vice President Gaolathe commended Japan’s efforts through TICAD to date. He also explained the economic policy of the new government of Botswana and expressed his expectation on the investment from Japan.
- Following that, Prime Minister ISHIBA, referring to the decision to conduct a survey for yen loan projects aimed at promoting small and medium-sized enterprises, stated that he would like to support Botswana's efforts to diversify its industries, which Botswana attached importance on. Prime Minister ISHIBA also mentioned the implementation of inter-university collaboration in the field of sustainable resource development and the establishment of a center for promoting study abroad in Japan in the Sub-Saharan region and stated that he would like to further strengthen exchanges that contribute to promoting mutual understanding among young people as well as human resource development, which are key theme of TICAD. In response, Vice President Gaolathe expressed his gratitude for Japan’s support and acceptance of exchange students from Botswana.