President Ian Khama of Botswana is due in Ghana for a day�s visit on Wednesday. The 58-year-old President Khama would meet President John Evans Atta Mills and hold bilateral talks on strengthening relations between the two nations.
A source at the Office of the President told Ghana News Agency that President Khama would explore ways of increasing investment between Ghana and Botswana.
Botswana is a country located in Southern Africa. It is mid-sized, landlocked country of over two million people.
Botswana is one of the poorest countries in Africa when she attained independence from Britain in 1966, with a GDP per capita of about $70.
Botswana has been transformed moving into the ranks of middle-income status to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world with her average annual growth rate of about nine per cent with a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about $14,800 (2010 IMF estimate).
Botswana�s impressive track record of good governance and economic growth, supported by prudent macroeconomic and fiscal management, stands in contrast to the country�s high levels of poverty, inequality and generally low human development indicators.
While education expenditure is high as 10 per cent of GDP and significant educational achievements have been attained, including the provision of nearly universal and free education, overall outcomes have not created the skills and workforce Botswana needs.
Unemployment has been persistently high at near 20 per cent, household incomes are much lower in rural areas than in urban areas (HIES 2002/03) and while rural poverty rates have fallen, they remain significantly higher than in urban areas.
The rate of HIV and AIDS infection has declined as a result of the government's aggressive introduction of anti HIV and AIDS drugs which are provided free of charge to the citizenry.
As one of the world's fastest growing economies, Botswana is trying to diversify her economy which is heavily dependent on diamonds, beef market and tourism.
Among other things, she is the proposed innovation hub project which will catapult the country to the world of innovations and innovation technology and researches in line with other institutions both local and international. Other minerals are soda ash, copper and nickel matte, gold, and coal.
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