30 Apr 2014

Ngamiland entrepreneurs have been advised to form an association and register it with Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) so that their voices could be heard.

Ngwana Enterprise chief executive officer, Mr Mooketsi Tekere said working solo was not beneficial and he emphasised the need for them to group themselves and apply for membership with BOCCIM.

He pleaded with entrepreneurs during the just ended two-day seminar that brought together entrepreneurs to dialogue and share ideas, challenges and come up with the best solutions to enhance their businesses.

Mr Tekere said they should be smart and rise up through the formation of association, adding further that associations have proved to be effective.

He said BOCCIM is a business association of employers representing employers in all sectors of the Botswana economy in an advocacy capacity. BOCCIM has been the vanguard and main voice of the private sector in Botswana.

The organisation has protected the economic interests of the business community and through its philosophy of constructive policy dialogue, BOCCIM has won the confidence and respect of government and other stakeholders in Botswana.

Membership of BOCCIM is voluntary and is open to registered companies, associations/organisations in both the private and parastatal sectors of the economy.
An application form must be completed by every company wishing to be a member of BOCCIM.

Participants also learnt that BOCCIM is collaborating with the Ministry of Trade and Industry in response to President Lt Gen Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s motive of empowering local companies through import substitution.

Mr Tekere informed them that his company has set up an office in Maun and he encouraged entrepreneurs to utilise it as their object is to assist them through motivation in order to change the entrepreneurship atmosphere in Maun. “We want to assist you and eventually ensure your business ideas are turned into reality”, he added.

For their part, participants complained about lack of funding, development of business plans and implementation that hinder their efforts to live their dreams. They also indicated that stealing other people’s business ideas is another area of concern.

The theme of the seminar was “Open Pitch entrepreneurship Competition” which aimed at helping entrepreneurs and businesses by exposing them to ways of harnessing the strength of entrepreneurs in order to deliver in the 21st century through new ideas, innovation, and education.

The seminar attracted facilitators from South Africa, Botswana, Bosnia and Jamaica and they shared ideas on how entrepreneurs could change the level of entrepreneurship in Botswana and best ways to start successful business enterprises.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs were given an opportunity to exhibit their products which afterwards were judged against each other. The entrants were expected to have unique business ideas that would persuade judges into believing they had the potential of becoming thriving business entities. Ends