India, Botswana agree to collaborate in housing sector

NEW DELHI: India and Botswana today agreed to actively collaborate and share experiences in the area of human settlements, including slum development.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Botswana's Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Mokgwetsi Masisi and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja.

During the half-an-hour meeting, the ministers discussed common areas of interest like slum upgrading, affordable housing, skill development and monitoring of training programmes for the beneficiaries through biometrics tracking system and community involvement in government programmes.

Before the meeting with Kumari Selja, the visiting eight- member delegation of the African nation also interacted with the officials of the Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Ministry.

The Botswana delegation is currently in India on a week- long visit till June 23 to learn about India's best practices on poverty eradication.

The delegation is also scheduled to visit Hyderabad and Mumbai.