President of Botswana to visit Estonia

TALLINN – At the invitation of Estonian President Alar Karis, Botswanan President Duma Gideon Boko will pay his first state visit to Estonia on May 20 and 21.

The visit is symbolic because Botswana's President Boko is the first African head of state to pay a state visit to Estonia. President Alar Karis and First Lady Sirje Karis visited Botswana in March 2024.

"Botswana is an important partner for Estonia in both political dialogue and business diplomacy and development cooperation. We are also bound by a strong belief in democracy and a rules-based world order," Karis said. "Estonian companies are interested in developing cooperation with Botswanan partners in the field of digital technologies, and as a country, we are happy to share our digital country experiences in order to promote innovation together."

The visit of the Botswanan head of state will focus on the sharing of Estonia's experiences in e-governance, cybersecurity, and digital services. The meetings will also cover economic and educational cooperation between the two countries, closer cooperation in international organizations, and issues related to the international security situation.

The Botswanan president will be accompanied on the visit by Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale, Minister of Communications and Innovation David Tshere and Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima.

On Tuesday, President Alar Karis will welcome the president of Botswana at a welcoming ceremony in front of the President's Office in Kadriorg, followed by a meeting of the presidents and a joint press conference.

President Boko will then meet with Prime Minister Kristen Michal and Riigikogu speaker Lauri Hussar and lay a wreath at the foot of the War of Independence Victory Monument. In the afternoon, the president of Botswana will be welcomed by Tallinn city council chairman Toomas Kruusimägi at Tallinn Town Hall.

On Wednesday, the presidents of Estonia and Botswana will participate in a business seminar, the aim of which is to introduce the work done by Estonian entrepreneurs and discuss how Estonia can further support Botswana's digital development. The president of Botswana will also visit the e-Estonia Briefing Center, Tallinn University of Technology and the Rakett69 Science Studio, where he will learn about the activities of HK Unicorn Squad.

In the evening, Karis will host a state dinner in honor of the president of Botswana at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds, followed by an official farewell ceremony on the square in front of the Song Festival Grounds premises.

The president of Botswana is the first African president to pay a state visit to Estonia and the second African president to pay a visit to Estonia. In 2016, the head of state of Benin paid a working visit to Estonia.