29 May 2013

Ministry of Trade and Industry employees on May 27 received awards for their outstanding performance.

Speaking at the ceremony , trade and industry minister Ms Dorcas Makgato-Malesu said her organization values and appreciates the importance of each employee and their contribution to the attainment of ministerial goals and objectives.

She said it was not easy to achieve such recognition but there has been running, bumping against one another and working extended hours.

The minister explained that through the dedication of her staff, they have scooped first position for the 2012/13 performance year.

She said her ministry has taken deliberate decision to invest in leadership development and team building and have introduced MTI Leadership Forum composed of senior executive team including CEOs and Chairpersons of parastatals falling under the ministry.

Ms Makgato-Malesu said her ministry has been given the responsibility to create wealth and employment through investment, industrialisation, economic diversification and trade in order to improve the quality of lives of Batswana.

She said this could be done through programs such as creation of sustainable industries, economic diversification, export development, foreign direct investment and poverty eradication.

The minister said some clients have criticised Botswana saying the legislation does not facilitate business development.

She said it was on this background that they had been working on the ease of doing business in the country and recently, Botswana has been ranked number two in the world as the most attractive location for foreign investment.

Furthermore, Botswana has also been ranked one of the first 12 in the world identified to be less risky in terms of political risk, civilian unrest and acts of terrorism by AON.

The Legatum 2012 Personal Freedom Index has also identified Botswana as the only green country in Africa whose citizens enjoy high levels of personal or individual freedom or expression, belief and autonomy.

Minister Makgato-Malesu said they continued to work relentlessly on improving the business environment. She said over the last year, strides had been made in starting a business, paying taxes and trading across borders, as identified by the World Bank’s Doing Business report.

She further said they are currently reviewing three policies namely, industrial development policy, national quality policy and the national entrepreneurship policy.

The minister said the Botswana Trade Commission Bill is expected to be presented to Parliament during the winter session and they are finalising the Co-operative Societies Amendment Bill. ENDS