1

Dear Readers and Friends of Botswana

Welcome to our very first issue of the Botswana Embassy

in Stockholm Newsletter We aim to bring you news

about the Embassyrsquos activities news from Botswana and

information for tourists investors students and everyone

wishing to learn about Botswana In this edition we

feature Botswanarsquos new Ambassador to Sweden HE Mr

Lameck Nthekela among other informative articles The

newsletter will be issued three times a year this being the

very first

We hope this will be a

f a s c i n a t i n g a n d

interesting read for

you

Enjoy

The Ambassador presents Letters of Cre-

dence to His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf

of Sweden

2

About the Ambassador 2

Botswana signs Tax Information Exchange

Agreements with the Nordic Countries

3

Botswanamdash Sweden cooperation on waste

management land administration and air

quality monitoring

3 - 4

Embassy attends the Botswana ndashSweden

Friendship Association AGM

4

Investor news 4

Planning a Vacation Soonvisit Botswana 5

Consular Assistance provided 5

Inside this issue

BOTSWANA EMBASSY NEWSLETTERBOTSWANA EMBASSY NEWSLETTERBOTSWANA EMBASSY NEWSLETTER

Issue 12013mdashApril 2013

Stockholm Sweden

2

Ambassador presents his Letters of Credence to HM King Carl XVI Gustaf

F ollowing his arrival in Sweden on 9th February 2013 His Excellency

Mr Lameck Nthekela presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty

King Carl XVI Gustaf on 13th February 2013 accrediting him as Ambassador

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Botswana to the Kingdom

of Sweden The Ambassador was accompanied by officials from the Embassy

Ms Pretty Phologolo and Ms Maipelo Mogotsi at the ceremony

Ambassador Nthekela becomes Botswanarsquos seventh Ambassador to the King-

dom of Sweden since the opening of the Embassy in Stockholm in 1985

About the Ambassador

HE Lameck Nthekela was born in the village of Kalakamati just on the outskirts of Francistown in 1965 where

he did his primary education through to the University of Botswana where he attained his Bachelor of Arts De-

gree Ambassador Nthekela holds an MBA from the Edith Cowan University of Australia

Before his appointment as Botswanarsquos Ambassador to Sweden Nthekela was the Head of the Botswana Export

Development and Investment Agency (BEDIA) Previously he was the Regional Representative of BEDIA for

the European Union and was based in London United Kingdom from 2002-2007 Ambassador Nthekela has

also previously worked for the Ministry of Trade and Industry tasked with different responsibilities including

trade negotiations within the Foreign Trade division He brings to his diplomatic role vast experience in the

investment arena and on trade and trade related issues He is married with two children a girl (21) and a boy

(13)

HE Mr Lameck Nthekela poses for a photo with his team and officials from the Royal Court before the Presentation

of Credentials ceremony

Botswana Sweden friendship flag

3

On 20th February 2013 in Paris France the Ambassador HE Mr Lameck Nthekela signed Tax

Information Exchange Agreements with six Nordic Countries namely Sweden Norway Iceland

Finland Denmark including Greenland and the Faroes on behalf of the Minister of Finance and

Development Planning Hon Kenneth Mathambo The agreements will facilitate the exchange of

information for tax purposes by the parties In addition a protocol to amend the Double Taxation

Avoidance Agreement was also signed with Sweden

A waste management cooperation project between the City of Vaumlsterarings and the Gaborone City Council has taken

off On 11 March 2013 HE Mr L Nthekela and Minister Counsellor Mr I T Dabutha visited the Vafabmiljouml

Headquarters (a waste management company) in Vasteras to learn about the project called the Gaborone Trans-

fer and Recycling Station (GTARS) which is aimed at establishing a more efficient waste management system in

terms of social environmental and economic sustainability in Gaborone The project is funded by the Swedish

International Centre for Local Democracy (ICDL) and will run for three years with the aim to deliver a plant de-

sign for waste transfer and recycling processes in Gaborone This will be done through exchange visits between

the Gaborone City Council and City of Vasteras through the Swedish partners namely Vafabmiljouml and the Uni-

versity of Linkoumlping Besides delivering a Plant Design the project will go a long way in advancing skills and

technological transfer to Botswana while demonstrating how waste can be turned into a profitable product

Cooperation on Land administration

Botswana signs Tax Information Exchange Agreements with the Nordic Countries

Cities of Vasteras and Gaborone collaborate on waste management

On 3-9 March 2013 the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of

Lands and Housing Mr Thato Raphaka led a delegation of four to

the Swedish Mapping Cadastral and Land Administration Agency

(Lantmateriat) in Galve and Sida on a review mission of the on-

going collaboration project on Land Administration Procedures

C a p a c i t y S y s t e m s

(LAPCAS) in Botswana

The team also had the op-

portunity to visit the Em-

bassy for tea

Mr Bareng Malatsi from MLH presenting to

Sida

Waste paper ready for sale at the Vafabmiljouml plant Landfill operated by Vafabmiljouml in Vaumlsteraumls

The Ambassador with the MLH team at the Chancery

Land administration cooperation with Sweden

4

Partnership on Air Quality Monitoring in Botswana

T he Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control (DWMPC) has formed a

partnership with a Swedish Company called Sustainable Business Malarden (SusBiz) to

develop a strategy for the upgrade of the standard of air pollu-

tion control monitoring in Botswana The project is funded by

Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth within

the DemoEnviro program and aims to conduct a needs assess-

ment on air quality control for Botswana exchange infor-

mation expertise and technology transfer

On 11 March 2013 the Ambassador HE Mr L Nthekela and

Minister Counsellor Mr I T Dabutha joined the DWMPC

officials from Gaborone on a visit to SusBiz in Vasteras to ap-

preciate the cooperation between the two partners Opposite is

a picture taken during a presentation on the project in

Vasteras

Botswana-Sweden Friendship Association AGM

O n 16th March 2013 the Botswana Sweden Friend-

ship Association (BOTSFA) convened in the histor-

ical town of Sigtuna for the Members Annual General

Meeting (AGM) The AGM re-elected Mrs Julia Majaha-

Jartby as the Chair of the Association About fifty mem-

bers who at one time or another lived in Botswana to-

gether with officials from the Embassy attended the

AGM After the meeting members shared a meal and

drink while catching up and reminiscing about their

times in Botswana For more information about BOTSFA

please visit the associationrsquos website wwwbotsfanu

Investor News

Botswana is strategically located in the Southern

African region providing a linkage to the SADC

region and the rest of Africa Botswana is one of

Africarsquos most stable democracies and therefore a

suitable place to invest The worldrsquos largest pro-

ducer of diamonds by value and one of Africarsquos

exporters of Beef to the EU and Norway

Botswana offers a variety of opportunities for in-

vestors wishing to establish in Southern Africa

within the sectors of Mining Beef ICT Leather

Glass pharmaceuticals and Energy Botswana also

aims to be a Regional Hub within the areas of In-

novation Transport Education Agriculture Dia-

mond and Health where vast opportunities exist

For information on specific sectors please contact

the Embassy

Population 2 million

Land area 582 000 sq km

GDP 51 (2011)

GDP per capita USD 7730 (2011)

Participants at the AGM

5

Planning a vacation soonhellipvisit Botswana

T he Okavango - Botswana harbours one of the worldrsquos

most unique ecosystems the worldrsquos only intact inland

delta the Okavango A wealth of wildlife can be found in

Botswanamdashalso home to Africarsquos big five 38 of the coun-

tryrsquos land hosts national parks game reserves and wildlife

management areas You get to see the stunning beauty of

animals roaming free in their natural habitata photogra-

pherrsquos dream

Botswanarsquos vast enchanted landscapemdashfrom the wet over-

flowing Okavango the dry salt-backed Makgadikgadi pans

to the sandy Kalahari Botswana offers nothing but a magical

experience all year round

A visit to Botswana would not be complete without an inter-

action with the courteous dignified local Batswana Explore

and experience the rich cultural heritage Visit the mystical

drawings of the Tsodilo Hillsmdasha UNESCO heritage site the

captivating Tswapong gorge the sacred Photophoto ruins or

simply sit around the fire on a starry night as old people of

the village narrate fascinating stories hellipHeaven

Consular Assistance provided

The Embassy provides consular assistance to Bat-

swana residing in countries of accreditation includ-

ing services such as issuance of passports national

IDs and Emergency travel documents

In addition consular assistance is provided to for-

eign nationals including issuance of visa facilita-

tion of applications for research residence and

work permits The Embassy further provides infor-

mation and advice to tourists potential investors

students and visitors in general Citizens of EU and

most Commonwealth countries do not require visa

to Botswana For more information please contact

the Embassy

Part of the Okavango Delta

Map of Botswana conservation areas

6

Address

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana

Tyrgatan 11

Box 26024

SE-100 41

Stockholm

Tel + 46 8 545 25 880

Fax + 46 8 723 00 87

Email botstockgovbw

Opening Hours

9 a m - 1700 p m - Weekdays

3

On 20th February 2013 in Paris France the Ambassador HE Mr Lameck Nthekela signed Tax

Information Exchange Agreements with six Nordic Countries namely Sweden Norway Iceland

Finland Denmark including Greenland and the Faroes on behalf of the Minister of Finance and

Development Planning Hon Kenneth Mathambo The agreements will facilitate the exchange of

information for tax purposes by the parties In addition a protocol to amend the Double Taxation

Avoidance Agreement was also signed with Sweden

A waste management cooperation project between the City of Vaumlsterarings and the Gaborone City Council has taken

off On 11 March 2013 HE Mr L Nthekela and Minister Counsellor Mr I T Dabutha visited the Vafabmiljouml

Headquarters (a waste management company) in Vasteras to learn about the project called the Gaborone Trans-

fer and Recycling Station (GTARS) which is aimed at establishing a more efficient waste management system in

terms of social environmental and economic sustainability in Gaborone The project is funded by the Swedish

International Centre for Local Democracy (ICDL) and will run for three years with the aim to deliver a plant de-

sign for waste transfer and recycling processes in Gaborone This will be done through exchange visits between

the Gaborone City Council and City of Vasteras through the Swedish partners namely Vafabmiljouml and the Uni-

versity of Linkoumlping Besides delivering a Plant Design the project will go a long way in advancing skills and

technological transfer to Botswana while demonstrating how waste can be turned into a profitable product

Cooperation on Land administration

Botswana signs Tax Information Exchange Agreements with the Nordic Countries

Cities of Vasteras and Gaborone collaborate on waste management

On 3-9 March 2013 the Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of

Lands and Housing Mr Thato Raphaka led a delegation of four to

the Swedish Mapping Cadastral and Land Administration Agency

(Lantmateriat) in Galve and Sida on a review mission of the on-

going collaboration project on Land Administration Procedures

C a p a c i t y S y s t e m s

(LAPCAS) in Botswana

The team also had the op-

portunity to visit the Em-

bassy for tea

Mr Bareng Malatsi from MLH presenting to

Sida

Waste paper ready for sale at the Vafabmiljouml plant Landfill operated by Vafabmiljouml in Vaumlsteraumls

The Ambassador with the MLH team at the Chancery

Land administration cooperation with Sweden

4

Partnership on Air Quality Monitoring in Botswana

T he Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control (DWMPC) has formed a

partnership with a Swedish Company called Sustainable Business Malarden (SusBiz) to

develop a strategy for the upgrade of the standard of air pollu-

tion control monitoring in Botswana The project is funded by

Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth within

the DemoEnviro program and aims to conduct a needs assess-

ment on air quality control for Botswana exchange infor-

mation expertise and technology transfer

On 11 March 2013 the Ambassador HE Mr L Nthekela and

Minister Counsellor Mr I T Dabutha joined the DWMPC

officials from Gaborone on a visit to SusBiz in Vasteras to ap-

preciate the cooperation between the two partners Opposite is

a picture taken during a presentation on the project in

Vasteras

Botswana-Sweden Friendship Association AGM

O n 16th March 2013 the Botswana Sweden Friend-

ship Association (BOTSFA) convened in the histor-

ical town of Sigtuna for the Members Annual General

Meeting (AGM) The AGM re-elected Mrs Julia Majaha-

Jartby as the Chair of the Association About fifty mem-

bers who at one time or another lived in Botswana to-

gether with officials from the Embassy attended the

AGM After the meeting members shared a meal and

drink while catching up and reminiscing about their

times in Botswana For more information about BOTSFA

please visit the associationrsquos website wwwbotsfanu

Investor News

Botswana is strategically located in the Southern

African region providing a linkage to the SADC

region and the rest of Africa Botswana is one of

Africarsquos most stable democracies and therefore a

suitable place to invest The worldrsquos largest pro-

ducer of diamonds by value and one of Africarsquos

exporters of Beef to the EU and Norway

Botswana offers a variety of opportunities for in-

vestors wishing to establish in Southern Africa

within the sectors of Mining Beef ICT Leather

Glass pharmaceuticals and Energy Botswana also

aims to be a Regional Hub within the areas of In-

novation Transport Education Agriculture Dia-

mond and Health where vast opportunities exist

For information on specific sectors please contact

the Embassy

Population 2 million

Land area 582 000 sq km

GDP 51 (2011)

GDP per capita USD 7730 (2011)

Participants at the AGM

5

Planning a vacation soonhellipvisit Botswana

T he Okavango - Botswana harbours one of the worldrsquos

most unique ecosystems the worldrsquos only intact inland

delta the Okavango A wealth of wildlife can be found in

Botswanamdashalso home to Africarsquos big five 38 of the coun-

tryrsquos land hosts national parks game reserves and wildlife

management areas You get to see the stunning beauty of

animals roaming free in their natural habitata photogra-

pherrsquos dream

Botswanarsquos vast enchanted landscapemdashfrom the wet over-

flowing Okavango the dry salt-backed Makgadikgadi pans

to the sandy Kalahari Botswana offers nothing but a magical

experience all year round

A visit to Botswana would not be complete without an inter-

action with the courteous dignified local Batswana Explore

and experience the rich cultural heritage Visit the mystical

drawings of the Tsodilo Hillsmdasha UNESCO heritage site the

captivating Tswapong gorge the sacred Photophoto ruins or

simply sit around the fire on a starry night as old people of

the village narrate fascinating stories hellipHeaven

Consular Assistance provided

The Embassy provides consular assistance to Bat-

swana residing in countries of accreditation includ-

ing services such as issuance of passports national

IDs and Emergency travel documents

In addition consular assistance is provided to for-

eign nationals including issuance of visa facilita-

tion of applications for research residence and

work permits The Embassy further provides infor-

mation and advice to tourists potential investors

students and visitors in general Citizens of EU and

most Commonwealth countries do not require visa

to Botswana For more information please contact

the Embassy

Part of the Okavango Delta

Map of Botswana conservation areas

6

Address

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana

Tyrgatan 11

Box 26024

SE-100 41

Stockholm

Tel + 46 8 545 25 880

Fax + 46 8 723 00 87

Email botstockgovbw

Opening Hours

9 a m - 1700 p m - Weekdays

4

Partnership on Air Quality Monitoring in Botswana

T he Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control (DWMPC) has formed a

partnership with a Swedish Company called Sustainable Business Malarden (SusBiz) to

develop a strategy for the upgrade of the standard of air pollu-

tion control monitoring in Botswana The project is funded by

Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth within

the DemoEnviro program and aims to conduct a needs assess-

ment on air quality control for Botswana exchange infor-

mation expertise and technology transfer

On 11 March 2013 the Ambassador HE Mr L Nthekela and

Minister Counsellor Mr I T Dabutha joined the DWMPC

officials from Gaborone on a visit to SusBiz in Vasteras to ap-

preciate the cooperation between the two partners Opposite is

a picture taken during a presentation on the project in

Vasteras

Botswana-Sweden Friendship Association AGM

O n 16th March 2013 the Botswana Sweden Friend-

ship Association (BOTSFA) convened in the histor-

ical town of Sigtuna for the Members Annual General

Meeting (AGM) The AGM re-elected Mrs Julia Majaha-

Jartby as the Chair of the Association About fifty mem-

bers who at one time or another lived in Botswana to-

gether with officials from the Embassy attended the

AGM After the meeting members shared a meal and

drink while catching up and reminiscing about their

times in Botswana For more information about BOTSFA

please visit the associationrsquos website wwwbotsfanu

Investor News

Botswana is strategically located in the Southern

African region providing a linkage to the SADC

region and the rest of Africa Botswana is one of

Africarsquos most stable democracies and therefore a

suitable place to invest The worldrsquos largest pro-

ducer of diamonds by value and one of Africarsquos

exporters of Beef to the EU and Norway

Botswana offers a variety of opportunities for in-

vestors wishing to establish in Southern Africa

within the sectors of Mining Beef ICT Leather

Glass pharmaceuticals and Energy Botswana also

aims to be a Regional Hub within the areas of In-

novation Transport Education Agriculture Dia-

mond and Health where vast opportunities exist

For information on specific sectors please contact

the Embassy

Population 2 million

Land area 582 000 sq km

GDP 51 (2011)

GDP per capita USD 7730 (2011)

Participants at the AGM

5

Planning a vacation soonhellipvisit Botswana

T he Okavango - Botswana harbours one of the worldrsquos

most unique ecosystems the worldrsquos only intact inland

delta the Okavango A wealth of wildlife can be found in

Botswanamdashalso home to Africarsquos big five 38 of the coun-

tryrsquos land hosts national parks game reserves and wildlife

management areas You get to see the stunning beauty of

animals roaming free in their natural habitata photogra-

pherrsquos dream

Botswanarsquos vast enchanted landscapemdashfrom the wet over-

flowing Okavango the dry salt-backed Makgadikgadi pans

to the sandy Kalahari Botswana offers nothing but a magical

experience all year round

A visit to Botswana would not be complete without an inter-

action with the courteous dignified local Batswana Explore

and experience the rich cultural heritage Visit the mystical

drawings of the Tsodilo Hillsmdasha UNESCO heritage site the

captivating Tswapong gorge the sacred Photophoto ruins or

simply sit around the fire on a starry night as old people of

the village narrate fascinating stories hellipHeaven

Consular Assistance provided

The Embassy provides consular assistance to Bat-

swana residing in countries of accreditation includ-

ing services such as issuance of passports national

IDs and Emergency travel documents

In addition consular assistance is provided to for-

eign nationals including issuance of visa facilita-

tion of applications for research residence and

work permits The Embassy further provides infor-

mation and advice to tourists potential investors

students and visitors in general Citizens of EU and

most Commonwealth countries do not require visa

to Botswana For more information please contact

the Embassy

Part of the Okavango Delta

Map of Botswana conservation areas

6

Address

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana

Tyrgatan 11

Box 26024

SE-100 41

Stockholm

Tel + 46 8 545 25 880

Fax + 46 8 723 00 87

Email botstockgovbw

Opening Hours

9 a m - 1700 p m - Weekdays

5

Planning a vacation soonhellipvisit Botswana

T he Okavango - Botswana harbours one of the worldrsquos

most unique ecosystems the worldrsquos only intact inland

delta the Okavango A wealth of wildlife can be found in

Botswanamdashalso home to Africarsquos big five 38 of the coun-

tryrsquos land hosts national parks game reserves and wildlife

management areas You get to see the stunning beauty of

animals roaming free in their natural habitata photogra-

pherrsquos dream

Botswanarsquos vast enchanted landscapemdashfrom the wet over-

flowing Okavango the dry salt-backed Makgadikgadi pans

to the sandy Kalahari Botswana offers nothing but a magical

experience all year round

A visit to Botswana would not be complete without an inter-

action with the courteous dignified local Batswana Explore

and experience the rich cultural heritage Visit the mystical

drawings of the Tsodilo Hillsmdasha UNESCO heritage site the

captivating Tswapong gorge the sacred Photophoto ruins or

simply sit around the fire on a starry night as old people of

the village narrate fascinating stories hellipHeaven

Consular Assistance provided

The Embassy provides consular assistance to Bat-

swana residing in countries of accreditation includ-

ing services such as issuance of passports national

IDs and Emergency travel documents

In addition consular assistance is provided to for-

eign nationals including issuance of visa facilita-

tion of applications for research residence and

work permits The Embassy further provides infor-

mation and advice to tourists potential investors

students and visitors in general Citizens of EU and

most Commonwealth countries do not require visa

to Botswana For more information please contact

the Embassy

Part of the Okavango Delta

Map of Botswana conservation areas

6

Address

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana

Tyrgatan 11

Box 26024

SE-100 41

Stockholm

Tel + 46 8 545 25 880

Fax + 46 8 723 00 87

Email botstockgovbw

Opening Hours

9 a m - 1700 p m - Weekdays

6

Address

Embassy of the Republic of Botswana

Tyrgatan 11

Box 26024

SE-100 41

Stockholm

Tel + 46 8 545 25 880

Fax + 46 8 723 00 87

Email botstockgovbw

Opening Hours

9 a m - 1700 p m - Weekdays