09 Jul 2014

The Francistown Investment Forum project coordinator, Mr Sylvester Toteng, has said their interim strategy is 80 per cent complete.

Briefing the media on Tuesday, July 8 Mr Toteng said the strategy seeks to establish the investment opportunities in Francistown and whether the available resources are sustainable.

He explained that in two weeks, a company that will drive the investment will be set and whoever wants to invest in Francistown will have to register with the company.

Mr Toteng said although he does not have statistics yet, local companies and some from Zambia and Zimbabwe have shown interest.

He noted that a delegation led by the city mayor, Cllr James Kgalajwe, has left for the United States to talk to investors about the forum.

Furthermore, he cited that there is un-serviced land in Francistown and through the investment company, interested companies can go get into joint ventures and service or develop the land.

Mr Toteng said as part of sensitising the public and the business community about the investment forum, which will be launched in August 19-21, the investment committee will meet the SMMEs from Francistown, Tutume and Tonota areas.

He said they will also launch awareness campaigns on July 11, which will run every Friday to prepare the public to welcome investors. 

On July 25, a clean city campaign will be launched to encourage the public to keep their environment clean.

Mr Toteng said the public should appreciate the importance of a clean environment in order to attract investors. 

On August 2, the committee will host a family fun day at Mophato Private School as a way of encouraging people to rally behind the forum, which is part of the city’s vision.

The forum, which needs P3.5 million, will be officially opened by the Vice President (VP), Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, on August 19.

Mr Tshiamo Morobosi, the forum’s content and communications director, said the committee has talked to Lesotho companies such as the Lesotho National Development Corporation and Matekana Group of Companies about the forum.

The forum is part of Francistown Vision 2022, which is aimed at transforming the city into an investment hub with unlimited economic opportunities.

It came about after the realization that developments were lagging behind in Francistown, while some projects, which were earmarked to be carried out under the National Development Plan (NDP) 10 were deferred owing to the global economic recession. ENDS