13 Nov 2014

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama says since the inception of Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) in 2010, 28 000 jobs have been created for Batswana from over one thousand registered enterprises.

Giving the State-of Nation-Address during the first session of the 11th Parliament, he said EDD had been facilitating employment generating business opportunities by promoting the consumption of local products.

He said while the immediate focus had been leveraging public procurement in support of domestic industries, emphasis would now shift to developing greater internal capacity for export-led growth, while continuing to value local goods and services.

He said so far a total of P13.3 billion worth of goods and services were recorded since the inception of the initiative.“Out of this figure, the value of local manufacturers and service providers (EDD purchases) amount to P590.5 million for 2010/2011, P1.8 billion for 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 and P2.3 billion for 2013/2014,” he said.

He said government had also begun implementing the EDD Medium to Long Term Strategy, to develop sustainable sectors for economic growth and diversification.

President Khama said a leading example was the Leather Sub-sector Strategy, which is focused on the establishment of a Leather Park in Lobatse at a total cost of P225 million and that government had agreed to finance the park’s primary infrastructure, a Common Effluent Treatment Plant, estimated at P102 million, while other components of the project will be financed through private sector investment.

The President said government had also budgeted over P20 million to provide temporary assistance for over 12 months to support 34 textile companies employing 2912 workers.

On other issues, he said Small Micro-and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs remained critical in the achievement of job creation.He said the government anticipated that over the next few years local formal sector employment will be generated with the emergence of new economic opportunities through the synergies generated by the development growth nodes or clusters across the country.

He said there was anticipation of an expansion of opportunities in tourism, construction, transport services and agriculture resulting from the construction of the road and Rail Bridge at Kazangula and phase one of the water pipeline to Pandamatenga which he said was estimated to create over 9000 permanent jobs. ENDS