Botswana and Zimbabwe are set to host a joint business forum in Botswana on Thursday 8th, February, with the objective of developing and boosting trade and economic relations.

According to a press release published by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), the forum is due to take place in Maun, the administrative centre of the Ngamiland District, known as the country’s ‘tourism capital.’

The principal aims of the forum are to market Botswana as a major investment destination, look into trade and investment prospects, and encourage potential joint venture agreements between businesses in both nations.

The main sectors in focus within this initiative are agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing (textiles and clothing, building materials and furniture), and services (financial services and tourism), New Zimbabwe reports.

President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, and Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa are set to attend the event, as well as Botswana’s Minister of Trade and Industry Mmusi Kgafela, and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Frederick Shava.

In addition, firms in both Botswana and Zimbabwe will have the chance to showcase their products at an exhibition hosted by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre along with ZimTrade, Zimbabwe’s national trade development and promotion organisation.

The objective of the exhibition is to boost and promote cross-border trade for the benefit of both countries.

The close collaboration between Botswana and Zimbabwe led to the setting up of the bi-national commission (BNC) in 2019, which has resulted in the signing of several cooperation agreements covering numerous socio-economic and political factors.

The two countries already have a bilateral trade agreement, permitting preferential treatment of goods stemming from the two countries, either grown, produced or manufactured in both nations, reports The Chronicle.