14 November 2025
- India and Botswana signed pharma cooperation deal during Indian President Murmu’s state visit
- Agreement targets Botswana’s drug shortages amid ongoing health emergency
- India seen as key supplier; ranks third in global pharma production
India and Botswana signed a memorandum of understanding on pharmaceutical cooperation on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2025. Announced by the Botswana presidency on its Facebook page, the memorandum was signed during Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit.
The deal aims to improve access to affordable, high-quality Indian medicines for Botswana citizens. President Duma Gideon Boko said the cooperation “reflects the shared commitment of both nations to strengthening healthcare systems and ensuring that no citizen is left behind.”
President Boko thanked President Murmu for visiting Botswana marking his first ever state visit since assuming power and also India’s first state visit to Botswana.
“We agreed that the two countries would strengthen cooperation, particularly in light of the prevailing economic challenges facing Botswana.
In this regard, the visit by the President of India could not have been more timely as we were able to first hand, invite India to partner with us on implementing the requisite initiatives necessary for the transformational and economic revival journey,” Boko stated.
Murmu and Boko also held talks on deepening ties across sectors including trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, health, education, vocational training, defense and digital technologies. The announcement comes as Botswana struggles with severe shortages of essential drugs. In August 2025, Boko declared a health state of emergency after supplies of hypertension, cancer, diabetes and tuberculosis medicines ran critically low. In response, the President launched the 5-billion-pula ($358 million) Health First Botswana Partnership Fund to stabilise the supply chain for basic medicines and medical equipment.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with her counterpart, President Duma Boko, Murmu stated that Botswana and India have entered into an agreement to help “In providing easy access of good quality and affordable Indian medicines to the citizens of Botswana.
I also conveyed to President Boko, India’s decision to send essential ARV medicines as requested by Government of Botswana.”
The President further revealed that the two countries will work together in key sectors including trade and investment, agriculture, renewable energy, health, education, skills development, defence, and digital technology.
“We are encouraged by the growing participation of Indian companies in Botswana’s economic development, particularly in the diamond sector. We have also agreed to strengthen collaboration in sectors such as agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, education, skilling and capacity building,” President Murmu stated.
India, one of the world’s top drug manufacturers, could play a major role in easing the crisis. According to the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, India ranked third globally in 2023 for pharmaceutical production by volume, accounting for 20% of global exports. The country’s pharmaceutical industry is valued at about $50 billion and aims to reach $450 billion by 2047.
Source: https://shorturl.at/hhUot & https://shorturl.at/NB3Dd
