Vice President Merafhe begins Indian Visit

source: Republic of Botswana (20/6/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 8 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"


C7) 16/6/10: Vice President Merafhe begins Indian Visit

H.H. the Vice President, Lt. Gen. Mompati Merafhe, arrived in New Delhi India late yesterday to begin a four-day visit, which will also take him to Mumbai.

During his visit His Honour is scheduled to meet with political leaders, investors and potential investors as well as members of the country's Bollywood (film) fraternity.

The visit is a reciprocal one after the Indian Vice President, H.H. Hamid Ansari visited Botswana in January of this year.

The two Vice Presidents will have dinner as well as bilateral discussions together today

Tomorrow, H.H. the Vice President is also scheduled to meet with the Indian President H.E. Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Dr Manmohan Singh. In the evening there will also be an Official Banquet for His Honour.

Areas of discussion and possible agreement between Botswana and India include potential further bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology and small and medium enterprises.

While in New Delhi, H.H. the Vice President will also be meeting with Indian business leaders during an interactive gathering with members of joint chambers of commerce.

In Mumbai, the Vice President will interact with the Bollywood fraternity. This engagement is said to have come about as a result of Indian Vice President Ansari's visit to Botswana earlier this year, which included an evening stay at the Chobe National Park. The Indian Vice President was reportedly so enamoured that promised his host, Merafhe that he would try to lure Bollywood to Botswana.