01 Apr 2013

Botswana’s retail giant store, Choppies, has opened its 53rd shop.

Speaking at the official opening of the store in Tonota, Member of Parliament for Tonota South also deputy speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Pono Moatlhodi said the Choppies Group had invested a total of P15 million of which P6 million was specifically invested to procure stock for the Tonota store.

This, he said, was a life time opportunity for the people of Tonota and the surrounding villages to benefit from the development.

 He urged the group to consider establishing contractual business linkages with the local producers, SMME’s in particular, in order to instil professional business dealership and foster strategic relationships.

He said this would enable the SMME’s to grow and become sustainable businesses. At the same time, he observed that the formation of reliable and consistent supply chain would result in financial assistance packages for SMME’s by financial institutions.

Mr Moatlhodi further pleaded with the chain store that some of their products lines or part of their procurement budget should be procured or spent locally as these products lines presented business opportunities for Batswana.

“I believe that as retailers you are keen to see growth of the manufacturing sector in Botswana which has the effect of generating employment and contributing to the eradication of poverty,” he added.

In addition, he encouraged the Choppies Group of companies to work together with government in driving the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) initiative, which he said encouraged shops and other entities to support locally produced goods and services as well as promoting the development of business linkages.

Thus, he noted, there was need to support local producers to promote critical mass production and enhance consistency in the supply of quality products and services.    

The store has employed 80 people including two people living with disabilities. ENDS