Botswana’s President, Duma Boko, on Thursday announced a $12 billion investment agreement with Qatar’s Al Mansour Holdings, marking one of the largest foreign investment commitments in the country’s history.
The deal, signed in partnership with the state-owned Botswana Development Corporation, will fund projects in infrastructure, energy, mining, diamond refinement, agriculture, tourism, cybersecurity, and defence.
In a statement on Facebook, President Boko described the agreement as a “historic move” aimed at addressing the nation’s most urgent economic challenges.
Botswana, long regarded as one of Africa’s economic success stories, has struggled with a slump in the global diamond market, which led to a 3% contraction in GDP last year and raised fears of further decline in 2025. Diamonds account for the majority of Botswana’s export revenues.
“This historic move will be enough to address immediate challenges facing the country,” Boko said, expressing confidence that the investment would help stabilise the economy while advancing diversification.
A Qatari delegation arrived in Gaborone on Wednesday to explore opportunities and strengthen bilateral ties. The engagement highlights Botswana’s push to attract foreign capital as it works to reduce reliance on diamonds and expand its role in regional and global markets.
