10 Jul 2016

Business Botswana (BB), formerly Botswana Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) on Wednesday launched its new logo and revamped website as it celebrates 45 years.  

Speaking at the launch of the new brand, BB president, Mr Lokwalo Mosienyane said his organisation had been the leading voice for private sector development in Botswana for 45 years and had contributed to socio-economic wellbeing of businesses through lobbying government on various issues of concern that impeded growth of the private sector.

During these years, BB has been able to achieve e-government as through their intervention, Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) launched an electronic filing of Value Added tax (VAT) returns in January 2014.

BB initiated discussions for the privatisation policy for Botswana which resulted in registering of BTCL IPO and consequently the public offering of 462 million shares to Batswana.

Mr Mosienyane said the organisation had also helped in the establishment of the National Business Council (NBC) which was a private public sector forum facilitating ease of doing business in Botswana.

BB also assisted in the establishment and institutionalisation of the High Level Consultative Council and the establishment of Business Labour Consultative Council in 2015 following the signing of MoU between BB and Botswana Federation of Trade Unions.

The organisation also compelled government to reduce corporate and personal tax rates and the abolition of exchange controls in Botswana.

Mr Mosienyane said they signed a MoU with Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry to facilitate trade and collaborations in sectors such as Agri-business, ICT, Education and Finance.

He said in 2014, they took a decision to transform BB into an Apex Body.

As part of the transition, new services and initiatives were launched to help Botswana enterprises meet the challenges presented by today’s competitive business environment.

The initiatives, he said, included Chamber Trust Seal, a world Chamber Federation initiative that provides a traceable and local presence for a company through verification by a relevant local or national Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Mosienyane said this opens the world of business for local firms by providing its authenticity and existence.

BB, in partnership with Grant Thornton, offer Private Business Growth Awards to recognise companies that demonstrate amongst others, innovation and contribution to the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD).

The organisation also offers training designed for productivity improvement based on enhanced working conditions and human resources development.

Meanwhile, BB head of Public Affairs and Marketing, Ms Shiellah Moribame said the concept of the new logo centered around networking as naturally business is guided by solid networking between separate entities being the buyer and the seller.

She said the concept depicted organised networking and efficiency as Business Botswana stood as the pivot of doing business in Botswana.

The logo has been kept clean to make it attractive, flexible, recognisable and simple.

Copperplate Gothic Light font has been used in the two small ‘b’ letters as it’s clean, elegant and legible for corporate feel, while the close of gap between wording ‘Business Botswana’ suggest the merging or marriage of entities during trade.

A blue color has been used as it represents life, opportunity and savvy business practices, while brown represents the corporate world, wealth, strength, passion and earthy. ENDS