BOTSWANA’s balance of trade in 1998 swung into positive territory at the end of the third quarter despite a budgeted deficit. Presenting the national budget in February this year, Finance Minister Ponatshego Kedikilwe warned that the 1998 trade balance would slip into deficit for the first time since the 1980s as a result of falling diamond sales and rising imports. However, latest figures released on Friday by Botswana’s Central Statistics Office show that at the end of the third quarter last year the balance of payments showed a positive 733,9-million pula, based on imports for the first nine months at 6,789-million pula and exports of 7,523-million pula.