Botswana – an African success story

Together with China and the “Asian tigers”, Botswana is one of the countries with the fastest economic growth in the world over the last 20 years. From being one of the world’s poorest countries after its independence in 1966, Botswana has risen to the middle-income category of countries. Botswana once had one of the highest rates of HIV/Aids infection, but the rate of infection among the adult population has recently fallen from 35 percent to 25 percent.

Norway has taken part in a broad development cooperation with Botswana since the early 1970s. The bilateral cooperation has been phased out due to the country's economic progress, except for a programme within the health sector to combat hiv/aids. Thirteen Norwegian health workers are engaged in Botswana to support efforts to combat HIV/Aids.

This is a well-administered and politically stable country. It is highly regarded in the foreign policy arena, and former President Masire has acted as peace facilitator for DR Congo. It is one of the most respected countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which now has its headquarters in Botswana.
 
Botswana is a major exporter of minerals, including diamonds. It is estimated that Botswanian exports to Norway will total more than NOK 3 billion in 2007, most of which in the form of nickel plates supplied to Xstrata Nickel (formerly Falconbridge) in Kristiansand, as well as some meat. Botswana is the country in Africa with the highest exports to Norway.
 
The country has been given an A-grade for credit-worthiness by the World Economic Forum, and has been rated by Transparency International as the least corrupt country in Africa, scoring higher than several European countries.
 
Botswana is a good example of a country that, despite becoming one of the poorest in the world after gaining independence, has painstakingly transformed itself into a true success story.