21 Feb 2016

Botswana, like many of Sub-Saharan economies, is a small middle income country with aspirations to move into the higher income bracket.

This was said by Business Botswana president, Mr Lekwalo Mosienyane at a breakfast seminar that Business Botswana, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, hosted for members of KEIDANREN, a Japanese Business Federation on February 18.

The seminar was meant to strengthen ties between the two countries economies and the business communities.

For Botswana to move into the high income bracket, Mr Mosienyane said “we need strong partners. We need the private sector of Botswana to partner and engage with other private sectors.”

Business Botswana’s main objective, he said, was to advocate for a private sector driven economy and to ensure that “we break the glass ceiling of the middle income status into the higher income status.”

“At Business Botswana, we advocate for economic reforms to put Botswana on a higher economic growth path in order to generate wealth, prosperity and jobs,” he added.

Mr Mosienyane said his aim as president was “to ensure that Business Botswana members are able to identify partners in other economies to ensure that as the country grows it is because of our businessmen and women.”

Mr Mosienyane noted that the country faced water and energy challenges, and urged the delegation not to see this as an impediment, but as an opportunity. 

“This opens opportunities for private joint venture investments and power generation and transmission to meet the demand,” he said.  

The seminar also created an opportunity for networking and was attended by local businessmen and women who are aspiring to meet other business people from other countries to engage in the country’s infrastructure development.

“The need for a diversified economy has never been more urgent than now,” he said, adding that “inward and outward investment by Japan and Botswana will offer us an opportunity to diversify and grow our economy.” 

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr Masahiro Onishi said as a politically and economically stable and secure country, Botswana was a good country for operating a business.

He expressed gratitude to Business Botswana for hosting the Japanese Business Federation, saying the year 2016 did not only mark the 50^th independence anniversary of Botswana, but also the 50^th anniversary of Botswana/Japan diplomatic relations.

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1966, he said both countries have developed strong bilateral relations based on mutual respect.

Ambassador Onishi said he was happy to receive the business mission from Japan, “and I wish this business meeting will exchange information and opinions and also engage in fruitful discussions.” 

In his closing remarks, the chairperson of the Committee on Sub Saharan Africa KEIDANREN, Mr Kunio Noji said Botswana was a model country in Africa for its democracy, good governance and sound economic management.

He further said Botswana was blessed with mineral resources such as diamonds, copper and nickel and has a great potential. 

“This means the economic development of Botswana will carry big significance for the development of the entire Southern African economic zone,” he said.

He expressed hope that the seminar would lead to positive networks and joint ventures that would help to further strengthen existing economic relations between Japan and Botswana.

KEIDANREN is a comprehensive economic organisation with a membership of 1 329 representative companies of Japan, 109 nationwide industrial associations and 47 regional economic organisations. Ends