Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Botswana were formally established in 1985 and have deeply intensified in the past four years. The strengthening of bilateral ties by and large reflects the new emphasis that Brazilian Foreign policy has laid on the country`s relations with Africa since President Lula took office. Ever since 2003, Brazil has multiplied its external contacts with African countries, through the intensification of relations in political, economic and cooperation terms. Nearly ten resident  Embassies were opened or reopened in African capitals during that period and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has visited approximately twenty States in the continent. New business opportunities have arisen as a direct outcome of this political rapprochement, and trade with Africa has increased fourfold, reaching US$ 20 billion. Over seventy Brazilian Government-run cooperation projects are now in place in various African countries.

The strengthening of the bilateral bonds gained momentum in 2004, when the then Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Botswana Ernest Mpofu visited the Brazilian cities of Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, at the head of a business mission. In March 2005, Brazil sent a diplomatic mission to Gaborone, which submitted a Draft Agreement on Technical Cooperation between Brazil and Botswana .

In July 2005, the then President Festus Mogae visited Brazil on an official basis, at President Lula`s invitation (click here for the Joint Communiqué, here for President Mogae`s speech, and  here  for President Lula`s speech). The two Heads of State reviewed the bilateral, regional and international agenda of mutual interest. They celebrated the beginning of discussions between MERCOSUR and the SACU countries, acknowledged that multilateral commercial regulations had to meet the needs of developing countries, and agreed on the need to reform the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, making it more democratic and representative, by means of the incorporation of new permanent members. The President of Botswana restated his Governement´s support to Brazilian candidacy to permanent seat in the Security Council. At the end of the visit to Brasilia, a Bilateral Agreement on Technical Cooperation was signed that became the legal framework for the discussions on future bilateral cooperation programmes.

In February 2006, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva officially visited Gaborone, the first visit of a Brazilian President to the country (click  here  for the Joint Communiqué)  At the end of the visit, the Presidents signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Sports and the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation in the field of HIV/AIDS, which have given the legal basis to a promising bilateral cooperation in these areas. On the eve of  President Lula`s arrival to Gaborone, the first Brazil-Botswana Business Seminar was held (click  here for the speech by Minister of Trade and industry Neo Moroka).

In July 2006, former President Mogae participated in the II Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora (II CIAD) that took place in Salvador, as a special guest of President Lula. One month later, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mompati Merafhe officially visited Brazil (click here  for the Joint Communiqué) and presided over two major events: the second Brazil-Botswana Business Seminar, which was attended by nearly 100 senior executives in Sao Paulo; and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and the Botswana Ministry of Agriculture in the field of agricultural research.

In March 2007, the Embassy of Brazil in Gaborone was opened. In May of the same year, Ambassador João Inácio Padilha presented his credentials. The Ambassador to Gaborone is also Brazil´s Special Representative to SADC.

BILATERAL TRADE

The overall flow of trade between Brazil and Botswana is still low, despite a surge in the transactions between both countries in the past few years. In 2007, Brazilian exports to Botswana totaled US$ 2,7 million, which represented a 300% increase compared to 2006. The main products Brazil exports to Botswana are: tyre (32%); machines and mechanic equipments (20%); sugar (19%) and melted iron (12%).

 As a member of SACU, Botswana signed with Mercosur, in December 2004, an agreement of preferential trade, which includes a list of nearly 1000 products from each side.
 

                              BILATERAL TRADE BALANCE (in US$ thousands):

         

BRASIL=>BOTSUANA	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Exports	659	1.581	2.197	3.684	2.711
Imports	0	16	0	0	15