FICCI Business Mission to Botswana has set a strong foundation for deepening India’s engagement with Southern Africa

Gaborone, April 2025

A high-level business delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) visited Botswana earlier this month, marking an important step toward deepening economic ties between India, Botswana, and the wider Southern African region.

Bharath Kumar Kuthati, Indian High Commissioner to Botswana, paid a courtesy visit to the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana During the FICCI Business Mission

During the Business Mission to Botswana, FICCI co-hosted the India-Botswana Business Conclave, signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and Business Botswana. These strategic partnerships are set to foster mutual growth, enhance economic cooperation, and drive sustainable development between India and Botswana.

FICCI signed MOUs with Business Botswana and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre

The delegation also included prominent representatives from India’s leading diamond manufacturing firms. DTC Botswana welcomed the FICCI delegation, which was led by Gilbert Mangole, Botswana’s High Commissioner to India. Discussions during this engagement concentrated on strategies to optimize diamond beneficiation within Botswana’s diamond industry. Key areas of focus included investment opportunities, enhancing value addition to diamonds, catalyzing job creation, and promoting local economic development.

 FICCI delegation with DTC Botswana, led by Gilbert Mangole, Botswana’s High Commissioner to India

This visit served as a crucial platform for exploring diamond beneficiation, highlighting the critical importance of converting value addition strategies into tangible employment opportunities and fostering sustainable economic growth. DTC Botswana reiterated its commitment to partnering with essential stakeholders to advance the beneficiation agenda and stimulate transformative growth within the diamond sector, while also broadening employment opportunities for Batswana.

Further underlining the growing partnership, FICCI co-hosted the India-Botswana Business Conclave in collaboration with BITC. The conclave aimed to enhance economic synergies between the two nations, reflecting shared interests in trade promotion, technological exchanges, and developmental initiatives.

In addition to engagements within Botswana, the FICCI delegation, along with Bharath Kumar Kuthati, Indian High Commissioner to Botswana, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the SADC Headquarters in Gaborone. The delegation shared its vision of fostering partnerships with SADC and strengthening engagement with Southern African countries, emphasizing India’s commitment to contributing to regional growth and collaboration.

FICCI formalized MoU with the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce during the Botswana mission

Expanding its outreach beyond Botswana, FICCI also formalized a strategic MoU with the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce during the mission. This partnership aims to strengthen economic ties, promote mutual growth, and pave the way for sustainable development between India and Lesotho.

The FICCI Business Mission to Botswana has set a strong foundation for deepening India’s engagement with Southern Africa, reinforcing a shared commitment to trade, investment, innovation, and sustainable development.