Three envoys of France, Japan and Turkey presented their Letters of Credence to the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi on 1 March, 2023, following their recent accreditation by the Government of Botswana.
The three envoys are Ambassador Mr Ohmori Setsuo representing the Government of Japan; Ambassador Mr. Olivier Brochenin representing the Republic of France; and Ambassador Mr. Ahmet Idem Akay of the Republic of Turkey.
In presenting their Letters of Credence, the envoys reaffirmed their Governments’ commitment to strengthening their diplomatic ties and development cooperation with SADC for the benefit of their countries and the SADC citizens.
The envoys applauded the ongoing efforts by SADC to address the some of the security challenges affecting some parts of the region and emphasized the need for the SADC region to strengthen peace and security for the region to achieve economic development.
Upon receiving the envoys, H.E. Magosi outlined the SADC’s priority areas, espoused in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and the SADC Vision 2050, which guide areas of cooperation and partnership.
H.E. Magosi underscored that the SADC’s cooperation with partners is geared towards achieving a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle- to high-income industrialised Region where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice, and freedom as outlined in the Vision 2050.
The Executive Secretary informed the envoys that SADC is undertaking an exercise to prioritise and identify projects and programmes that will have high impact on the lives of the people and contribute to SADC Regional Integration.
The Executive Secretary took the opportunity during his meeting with the Turkish envoy to extend SADC’s condolences to the Government and the People of Turkey following the devastating earthquake which killed over 40, 000 people Turkey and left thousands of people injured.
Envoys accredited to SADC provide an important link between SADC and their sending governments and assist facilitating and strengthening collaboration and mutual connections, expand social and economic ties, and promote the exchange of ideas, dialogue as well as cooperation in numerous areas of common interest.
