20 Aug 2015

The proposed industrial development policy has what is needed to create employment opportunities, says Ministry of Trade and Industry, trade policy administrator, Dr Joel Sentsho.

Giving welcome remarks at an industrial development policy workshop in Gaborone recently, Dr Sentsho said the issue of job creation was topical as cabinet ministers, government officials and the private sector were all meeting in an effort to create employment. 

Presenting the revised Industrial Development Plan which was passed by Parliament in 2014, the chief commercial officer, Ms Ruth Baoki noted that the industrial development policy provided a framework for policies, initiatives, laws and regulations that govern the industry.

She said the policy was not only restricted to manufacturing as it also included services, adding that it was part of the broader strategy for the country’s development.

“The Industrial Development Plan is consistent with other high level policies such as the National Development Plan (NDP), Botswana Excellence Strategy and the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) strategy,” she said.

Ms Baoki noted that the 1998 Industrial Development Plan has been reviewed to ensure that it takes into account the dynamic regional and international economic environment.

She said the policy has been formulated to accommodate the ever changing domestic and regional economic environment.

Ms Baoki noted that the industrial development policy of 1998 focused on export led growth.

“IDP 2014 also focused on export led growth with emphasis on diversification and facilitation on industrial related components. The vision is to have diversified, sustainable and globally competitive industries,” she said.

Ms Baoki explained that unlike the 1998 policy, the 2014 policy was focused on setting up the institution that was going to support the policy. 

She said according to the 1984 policy, the Ministry of Trade and Industry was to focus on both the development of the legal framework for the industrial plan agenda and the implementation with incentives such as the Financial Assistance Policy (FAP), which was also implemented by the ministry.

“The 1998 policy came up with institutional frameworks to support its implementation which was a major challenge during the 1984 review,” she said.

She said out of the five thrusts, industry promotion and facilitation was specifically about luring investors with a view of job creation. Ends