State, national and local leaders met in August 2009 with officials from many facets of Botswana to discuss various issues that may be addressed by a new partnership between North Carolina and the Republic of Botswana.

Addressing participants of a North Carolina-Botswana State Partnership Program, including educators, health experts, administrators, business promoters, and tourism experts, U.S. Ambassador to The Republic of Botswana Stephen Nolan said that while the U.S. has a large presence in Botswana, it is not necessarily a large footprint.

The State partnership program is a national program involving all fifty states and 61 countries worldwide. The partnerships start with military to military relationships, progressing into civilian to civilian relationships as time and ties grow.

The program is incubated in partnerships established through the National Guard to develop lasting relationships, ultimately building ties throughout all levels of partners' respective societies and resulting in a close-knit economic and international security network.

The Guard is uniquely qualified for this, with a staff that provides continuity and history. Beyond that, said Major General William E. Ingram, Jr., North Carolina National Guard's Adjutant General, "the Guard is comprised of everyday Americans with the resources to reach out and touch the experts in their local communities."

He said this capability allows countries like Botswana to tap into resources more deeply and more quickly than had they worked solely through diplomatic channels.
North Carolina entered its relationship with Botswana, its second State Partnership relationship, in February 2008. Since then delegations from the two countries have made short visits to initiate their relationship.

Participants discussed healthcare, specifically HIV/AIDS treatment, which is rampant throughout Botswana, but being quickly controlled as statistics bear, and initiatives in education, a primary interest in North Carolina. The workshop also discussed Emergency Management, where both North Carolina and Bostwana have concerns with flooding and drought. Both governments have similar concerns with encroaching wildlife -the issues primarily focus on deer in North Carolina and elephants in Botswana.

Many participants pointed out similarities between North Carolina's primary industries and economies and those of Botswana. North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton said we must look forward to partnering the economies of Botswana, one of the fastest growing economies in the world with that of North Carolina, one of the fastest growing economies in the U.S. (according to North Carolina Department of Tourism and the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce).

Botswana Defence Force Commander Lieutenant General T.H.C. Masire reiterated the point, saying the new partners are interested in a skills transfer. His observation was supported later by a speaker who invoked President Obama's charge for transformational change.

Delegations from Botswana also visited North Carolina Air National Guard operations during an operational readiness exercise in Wisconsin and Modular Air Fire Fighting System recertification exercises in Tucson Arizona. Botswana is considering use of the system to quell its own wildfires.

During presentations throughout the week, American participants discovered that Botswana, as it works to address its public health challenges, has more hospital beds per capita than any other country on the African continent; that the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child has been reduced from forty to four percent; that the Botswana Defence Force is adept at border patrol through experiences in Sudan, and peacekeeping experiences in countries like Somalia; and that Botswana is preparing and presenting world-class athletes and hosting 2010 World Cup Soccer match.

Dr. John Finney, political advisor to National Guard Bureau's director says Botswana is a good example of what works in Africa. He added the United States can use this opportunity to listen and learn from them.