10 July 2013 – The Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Constancio R. Vingno Jr. visited Gaborone, Botswana from June 10 to 12 to meet with government officials of Botswana and Filipino nationals based there.
Ambassador Vingno led a Philippine business delegation which included Steven Chaimowitz, Philippine Honorary Consul in Cape Town; Mr. Philip Chien, Chairman of the Philippines-Botswana Economic and Cultural Council, Inc. (PBECC); and Mr. Thelmo Cunanan, PBECC President and Chief Executive Officer and Honorary Consul of Georgia in the Philippines.
Ambassador Vingno met with Mr. Zenene Sonobe, Deputy Chief of Protocol, to introduce the business delegation and request the latter’s assistance in arranging meetings for the delegation with different ministry officials of Botswana.
Ambassador Vingno also met with Mr. Clifford Maribe, Director for Asia and the Pacific, and discussed the establishment of a Bilateral Consultative Mechanism between the Philippines and Botswana and followed up on the status of the draft of a visa-waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders as previously submitted during his last trip to Botswana.
Ambassador Vingno also led the business delegation to a meeting with Director Kelebaone Gloria Maselesele of the Ministry of Tourism of Botswana. Director Maselesele briefed the delegation about the tourism potential of Botswana and its pivotal role in the economy of the country.
Messrs. Chien and Cunanan expressed their willingness in extending assistance to Botswana to promote Botswana tourism. Mr. Chien, President of the Global News Network, committed to air Botswana’s tourism promotions videos free of charge on his cable channel while Mr. Cunanan conveyed his interest in creating a memorandum of understanding between Director Maselesele’s office and major Philippine universities and colleges, which would offer scholarships for qualified Botswana tourism personnel. He also committed to work with the Botswana Tourism Organization to promote tours from the Philippines.
Ambassador Vingno expressed support to the proposed MOU between private Philippine academic institutions and the Botswana Department of Tourism and discussed the necessary protocols and government requirements.
Ambassador Vingno led the Philippine delegation to meet with Botswana Trade and Industry Minister Keletso Rakhudu. The meeting and introduction of the PBECC was arranged as part of the Ambassador’s efforts to boost economic ties between the Philippines and Botswana. The business delegation was in Gaborone to explore trade and investment opportunities and socio-cultural programs in Botswana.
During the visit in Botswana, the Ambassador and Mrs. Yoko Ramos Vingno also met with members of the Filipino community there and led the consular team which processed a total of seven passports and three notarial services and certification. He likewise graced the opening of a garments shop owned by Ms. Josie Du, a Filipino national in Botswana. END
