15 Jul 2015

 Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) has released  findings on the assessment of business opportunities across the country.

Speaking at a seminar in Gaborone, LEA chief executive officer, Dr Tebogo Matome, said the research work supported LEA’s strategy on assisting enterprises across all sectors of the economy.

He said through their accumulated experience in the entrepreneurship aas well as small and medium enterprises development, LEA had come to appreciate the uniqueness of the different regions in which it was operating. “Our realisation is that we do not have uniform business opportunities across the country,” he said.

He said in recognition of this reality and in preparation for the strategy, which was running from 2014 to 2017, the research team conducted a series of studies in which they profiled and appraised opportunities amenable to SMEs exploitation to 13 regions where LEA is operating.

Giving a presentation on the research findings, research and development director, Ms Dynah Solani said the findings had shown that Ghanzi and Tsabong had similar main business opportunities, being livestock production.

She said the main supporting factors for such business opportunities was the physical environment, which was suitable for both cattle and small stock production and that government had initiated support programmes such as youth grants and LIMID among others.

Ms Solani stated that the findings showed that Maun and Kasane were subjected to commercial capture fishing as the regions business opportunity due to weather conditions and high level of rainfall and also that there were perennial rivers with adequate fish yield.

Research manager, Mr Mopati Jobe, said there were four main business opportunities identified at Mochudi, which were both under the agricultural sector.

He said these businesses validated opportunities that included horticulture production, small stock production, commercial production of Tswana chickens, beef production.

He noted good infrastructure, such as electricity connectivity, good road network and telecommunication as the main supporting factors for such opportunities.

For Kanye region, he said the main opportunities included commercial beef production of which the opportunity under beef production includes supply of animal feeds, slaughter facilities, veterinary services among others.

He further said tourism related accommodation facilities have been found as the main business opportunity in Kanye, citing supply of furniture and hospitality as opportunities.

For supporting factors under the tourism related, he said the findings shows that there is available demarcated land for hospitality establishments and also high occupancy rate of existing tourism related establishments.

Mr Jobe indicated that the research findings for Serowe indicates that the region has validated business opportunities which are tourism related and property development, which is made evident by supporting factors such as anticipated demand for residential and industrial projects in the region.

For Selibe Phikwe region, the research findings shows that the main business opportunity are dam based recreation and the opportunities under the main business opportunity is the supply and servicing of boats, supply of fishing and sailing equipment.

The finding reveals that the region is favorably placed to attract tourists.

While for Molepolole, it shows that the main business opportunities are agriculture input supplies, commercial small stock production and beef cattle farming, whereas for Masunga the findings shows that brick and block moulding, grain milling, tourism sites are main business opportunity.

He noted that the supporting factors according to the findings are that there is presence of rivers in the region to supply sand and water to moulding business.

For Francistown, Mr Jobe said the findings shows tourism and accommodation facilities as the main business opportunity stating that the main supporting factors for this business opportunity is due to availability of land, well developed infrastructure and many more. ends