Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, when celebrating International Labour Day in Francistown on Thursday, pledged to focus on creating more jobs and an increased pay, The Nation reports.

“The government is targeting and prioritising job creation through several strategies, chief amongst them, being relentless efforts to attract foreign direct investors,’’ said Masisi.

He went on to say that his government was working to establish Botswana as an ideal environment for investors to set up businesses.

Masisi has long been eyeing unemployment as a key issue that needs fixing, seeing as the unemployment rate is estimated to be as high as 21%.

He went on to add: “My government is also committed to intensifying skills development in order to enhance the employability of trainees and promoting harmonious labour relations.”

The president also said that Botswana has taken up measures aimed at contributing to the diversification of the economy.