12 August 2025
Botswana and Türkiye are expected to sign a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports during an official visit by the Minister of International Relations of the southern African country, Dr Phenyo Butale.
Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, Dr Phenyo Butale, arrived in Ankara on Monday for a four-day visit at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two ministers are expected to hold bilateral talks focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment and multilateral engagement.
According to the Ministry of International Relations of Botswana, the visit will conclude with the signing of a visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic, official, service and special passports, marking an important step in facilitating high-level exchanges between the two countries.
During his stay in Turkey, Dr Butale will also meet members of the Türkiye-Botswana Business Council and make site visits, including ASELSAN, a leading Turkish defense electronics company specialising in avionics, radar and satellite technologies. The minister is also expected to pay tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, in Ànıtkabir, by signing the official commemorative book.
Botswana and Turkey established diplomatic relations in 1981 and maintain cordial ties in various sectors, including human resources development and economic cooperation. Butale is accompanied by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, and senior government officials.
Source: https://shorturl.at/6Yoya
