Palapye.com News Blog

source: BOPA
15 May, 2008

GABORONE - Botswana has reaffirmed its commitment towards a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Speaking at the Europe Day celebrations, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani said the agreements had saved Botswanas trade with the European Union, in particular the beef industry.

He said it was Botswanas hope that all parties in the process of negotiations would be happy with the outcome.

We continue to support the principal that the EPA should encourage regional integration and support our developmental efforts.

Mr Skelemani said this can only be done if the process respects the already existing integration institutions in the SADC region and contributes to the milestones and programmes that the bloc has set out to achieve.

He said the BotswanaEU partnership has contributed in developing sectors such as human resource, tourism, trade promotion and the [continue reading]