In June, Consul Cunanan, as President of the Philippines – Botswana Economic and Cultural Council (PBECC), Inc., organized and led a business delegation to Gabarone, Botswana, with the objective of raising business, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the Philippines, Botswana, and Georgia. Included in the delegation were Ambassador Constancio Vingno, Philippine Ambassador to Pretoria, South Africa (and non-resident envoy to Botswana); Mr. Philip Chien, PBECC Chairman and President of the Global News Network and First United Broadcasting Corporation; and Mr. Steven Chaimowitz, Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Cape Town and President of Avatar Investments Ltd.
The delegation made courtesy calls on key government ministries in Gabarone such as Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Trade and Industry, and Tourism, and met with many high-ranking officials. These included the following: Ambassador Zenene Sinombe, Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Botswana; Mr. Keletso Rakhudu, Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry; and Ms. Kelebaone Gloria Maselesele, Director of the Department of Tourism. The delegation also met with local businessmen and members of the Filipino community in Botswana.
During the meetings, Ambassador Vingno stressed the strong ties between the Philippines and Botswana and current initiatives to improve relations. He also reiterated the Philippine government’s commitment to expanding economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
The PBECC officials, on the other hand, presented their organization, its history, and mission and vision. Mr. Chien stressed the readiness of the PBECC to aid and assist the Government of Botswana and its Embassy in Tokyo with their activities in Manila. He also vowed to look after the interests and welfare of Botswana’s citizens and businessmen in the Philippines.
Consul Cunanan, on the other hand, outlined the PBECC’s plans and programs, the most immediate of which is a tourism campaign, via the Global News Network, the fastest growing news channel in the Philippines, and a soon-to-be created Southern African online tourism portal, to bring more travelers from both the Philippines and Georgia to Botswana, to enjoy the country’s world-famous, pristine nature reserves.
Consul Cunanan also explored trade and investment possibilities in Botswana for Philippine and Georgian businessmen, with focus on manufacturing, services, retail, franchising, and the privatization of state-owned enterprises and infrastructure.