President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi has noted that Seoul, the highly efficient capital of the Republic of Korea and the world's fourth-largest metropolitan economy after Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles, offers valuable lessons in sustainable urban planning for Gaborone and other localities in Botswana.
In an interview with BOPA following his meeting with Seoul's Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday, Dr. Masisi expressed his vision of transforming Botswana's urban and rural areas into smart cities with well-planned settlements.
"The mayor, a university professor with extensive international experience, including in Africa, has provided valuable insights on delivering services to citizens and engaging them in their well-being. Our discussions dovetailed perfectly with our developmental goals, including quality education, infrastructure, and functional civic organization," Dr. Masisi stated.
President Masisi highlighted that both he and Mayor Oh Se-hoon share a passion for a knowledge-based economy and citizen empowerment, which they aim to pursue through a partnership.
"We discussed governance and the necessity of continuously training and sharpening people's skills to help them thrive. We agreed to cooperate, as established in my meeting with the President of Korea, Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol," President Masisi said.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon, with his extensive experience as a former member of the Korean National Assembly, former mayor of Seoul (2006-2011), and academic, provided advice on various issues, including high-end tourism development to boost revenue. They also discussed public transportation systems, digitalization for economic facilitation, and other topics crucial for Botswana's development.
Dr. Masisi invited Mayor Oh to Botswana to exchange ideas on building efficient towns and hosting Meetings, Incentive, Conferences, and Exhibition (MICE) events, leveraging Seoul's experience as a host of major events like the 1988 Olympics and 2002 World Cup.
"He shared insights on developing smart cities, focusing on efficiency, reducing service costs, improving transport systems, sanitation, housing, leisure, security, and overall prosperity. This vision aligns perfectly with my aspirations for all citizens of Botswana," Dr. Masisi added.
