30 Oct 2016

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo says Botswana’s builders and construction industry, together with its complementary and associated business alike, is an integral part of the country’s economy and commerce.

Speaking at the PPC Botswana@50 Builder’s and Construction Expo on Friday, Mr Mabeo said it was important to the country that the construction sector and the business it represented were thriving.

He noted that it was important to appreciate contribution by the construction industry together with peers in building supplies and retail sector.

“This industry is very crucial to our economy because it contributes to job creation, housing, energy, infrastructure development and even in social responsibility initiatives,” he said.

As Botswana celebrated 50 years of independence this year, he said, the expo was also designed to recognise and applaud massive contribution made by Botswana’s construction sector to the economy over the past 50 years.

Further, Mr Mabeo said builders expos were important to any construction industry because they contributed to the market in which they operated as well as excellent opportunity for manufacturers, distributors and retailers to get valuable feedback on their products while also offering unique sales platform.
As brand perception became more important, he said builders expos also afforded construction brands ideal space to influence brand perception by exhibiting both existing and future products.

The minister also indicated that builders expos also provided comprehensive profile of the major business operators in any builders and construction market from general building supplies, their distributors to construction products and accessories including construction vehicles and equipment, finance and insurance companies.

Thus, he said it was encouraging to see Botswana’s construction industry coming together to showcase the best they had to offer to the local market, adding that showed confidence that existed in the economy and the country. ENDS