09 Oct 2014

The Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM) business development project is expected to benefit Batswana in job creation and beneficiation.

The mining sector business development project will see massive citizen economic empowerment given its objectives of development of citizen owned companies and development of joint venture companies.

Speaking at the project launch, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila commended the BCM for the initiative, noting that it would be helpful in the country’s economic diversification zeal.

The initiative was solely made to benefit Batswana and locally based companies to acquire maximum value from the mining industry, he added. He said as a ministry, they saw potential in the prospecting companies that existed in the country and also the discovery of more minerals would complement the project objectives.

For her part, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Dorcas Makgato Malesu said the BCM business development project was crucial to the country’s industrialisation process. She noted that the project would also help reduce the importation of mining accessories from international companies and probably increase exports.

Minister Makgato-Malesu further noted that the business development project would help increase business in the mining sector since the industry was the most consumer of goods and services. Other objectives of project are to increase local procurement in the mining sector and also to increase procurement from citizens. 

Project chairman, Mr Ronald Yane said that the mining sector business development project was meant to drive cost savings and efficiency improvement initiatives for the BCM members. He also noted that for the success of the project they would improve strategic partnerships and alliances. ENDS