US embassy cable - 05GABORONE66

UNCLAS GABORONE 000066 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT/BTT - DEBORAH MALAC & JACK BOBO, AF/S 
AND AF/EPS 
PRETORIA FOR FAS - REYNOLDS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR, ECON, ETRD, TBIO, BEXP, KPAO, BC 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACH 
PROJECT - BOTSWANA 
 
REFS:  (A) 04 GABORONE 1937, (B) 04 STATE 244670, (C) 04 
GABORONE 1318 
 
1.  Summary:  Embassy Gaborone requests USD7,000 from EB to 
fund a biotechnology outreach project in Botswana that will 
provide two weeks of technical assistance to the Government 
of Botswana's National Coordinating Committee on Biosafety 
(NCCB) in creating a national framework for biosafety.  We 
believe this two-week TDY will be very constructive in 
advancing USG biotechnology interests within Botswana and 
the Southern Africa region.  End summary. 
 
2.  The Government of Botswana has established a National 
Coordinating Committee on Biosafety (NCCB), which is tasked 
with developing a National Framework on Biosafety (NFB) for 
presentation to Cabinet by April 2005.  In October 2004, the 
USG (at the initiative of Congressman Steve King of Iowa) 
assisted the Government of Botswana in this endeavor by 
making arrangements for, and partially funding, three NCCB 
experts to visit Washington, Iowa and Nebraska to learn 
about the U.S. biotechnology industry and enable them to 
develop a more comprehensive and objective policy and 
regulatory framework on biosafety (Ref A & C).  In December, 
USDA provided the services of an APHIS Science Fellow, Dr. 
Subhash Gupta, PhD, Senior Biotechnologist, to travel to 
Gaborone for one day to lecture at the College of 
Agriculture and meet with the NCCB to discuss the National 
Framework on Biosafety (Ref. A). 
 
3.  Following up on these successful initiatives, Emboff 
spoke with Dr. Kekgonne Baipoledi -- Chair of the NCCB and 
the leader of the team that participated in the biotech 
study tour -- regarding Ref B, which invites applications 
for projects that will provide accurate information on the 
benefits of biotechnology to policy makers and consumers and 
encourage the adoption of science-based regulatory systems. 
Dr. Baipoledi has consequently requested that the USG 
provide a technical expert with hands-on experience for two 
weeks to advise the NCCB on creating a national framework on 
biosafety and to conduct other activities (e.g., lecturing) 
in support of the Government's biotechnology initiative in 
Botswana.  The advisor would also engage biotechnology 
experts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 
to explore ways to move biotechnology forward throughout the 
Southern Africa region. 
 
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Project Details (per Ref. B, Para 7) 
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4.  Project Name: Development of National Framework for 
Biosafety in Botswana. 
 
5.  Cost: USD7,000 -- being USD3,600 for lodging, meals and 
local transport, and USD3,400 for economy class airfare. 
(Note: business class travel would increase the cost by 
USD4,800.) 
 
6.  Target Audiences: Members of the NCCB; senior Government 
of Botswana officials, university and College of Agriculture 
students and faculty, senior SADC biotechnology officials, 
and the general public. 
 
7.  Specific Biotechnology Issues to be Addressed: (A) 
Development of a national framework for biosafety in 
Botswana; (B) Dissemination of accurate scientific 
information on biotechnology in Botswana and regionally; (C) 
ways and means of expanding biotechnology throughout the 
Southern Africa region through SADC.  (Note: During the week 
of January 17, the NCCB will meet to more fully define the 
scope of work for this advisor vis-a-vis Botswana.) 
 
8.  USG biotechnology policy objectives will be met through 
developing a sound national framework for biosafety in 
Botswana, disseminating accurate scientific information on 
biotechnology in Botswana and in the region, and exploring 
opportunities for promoting biotechnology throughout the 
Southern Africa region. 
 
9.  Length of Project: Two weeks. 
 
10.  Responsible Officer:  Ted Pierce, Regional Environment 
and Health Officer, Office Tel: (267) 395-2983 x5257, Office 
Fax: (267) 395-6947; Mobile: (267) 7175-4535. 
 
HUGGINS 
 
 
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