03 May 2017

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has called on the youth to search, develop, pursue and expand new business ideas.

Mr Molefhi said this during the ongoing Kanye Youth Business Expo under the theme: Searching for new opportunities, leveraging wealth, power and influence, at Ledubeng Park in Kanye on Tuesday.

The Selibi-Phikwe East MP said the originality of ideas was vital for any business to thrive.

“Replicating an existing business, although feasible, has often times proven not to be sustainable. The success of such a business is limited because it is not your passion,” he said.

He cited information and technology as well as native foods as untapped areas with a huge potential that young people could leverage on to improve their lives and create employment for fellow Batswana.

To make progress, minister Molefhi said the youth needed to collaborate and share business ideas.

He also called on young people in business to get their priorities right and know that business money was for investment and reinvestment only.

“You must also guard against premature diversification as it can work against your businesses,” he said.

Moreover, Mr Molefhi assured the youth that government remained committed to supporting their businesses undertakings through institutions such as LEA, CEDA and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development among others.

Botswana Stock Exchange CEO, Mr Thapelo Tsheole agreed with Mr Molefhi, saying the youth needed to collaborate and identify comparative and competitive businesses in and around Kanye.

He noted that in 2016 alone, Botswana spent P66 85 billion on imported goods and services, saying it should challenge young business people to leverage on.

Mr Tsheole also told the young people that there were potential risks in every business undertaking, adding that it should not deter their resolve.

Ms Ogaufi Tafa, CEDA client service centre manager for the Kanye branch, said her office was awaiting viable business proposals from the youth in and around Kanye.

“There is a lot of opportunities for the youth to tap into,” she said, noting that since inception the branch office has funded 82 projects at the tune of P33.4 million. ENDS