04 Jul 2017

The Dinokeng Youth Entrepreneurship Expo (DYEE) continues to cultivate youth businesses and entrepreneurship by creating a platform to showcase their goods and services.

Officiating at the expo in Mmathubudukwane on July 1, the acting chief executive officer of Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Mr Meshack Tshekedi said the expo aimed to encourage participation by the youth in the country’s efforts towards economic diversification.

Mr Tshekedi applauded exhibitors for their dedication and commitment in their businesses despite the challenges they faced.

He said self-employment and job creation was in line with the government’s sustainable development goal of economic diversification.

He urged exhibitors to seek assistance in relevant government departments, parastatal and private institutions to grow their enterprises.

He said stakeholders such as BITC promoted investment and trade assistance and equal opportunities to all local businesses.

Mr Tshekedi noted that they helped businesses to export their goods and services, as it was the government’s mandate to help enterprises grow. 

He added that the expo helped businesses and exposed them to a wider market, as it gave exhibitors an opportunity to access the market and benchmark from others. 

Moreover, he said the expo  helped to position Kgatleng District as a business and investment hub, adding that the exposé could attract investors and sponsors who could help in the economic growth of the district.

He advised the youth to reshape their ideas and engage all relevant institutions and highlighted the importance, noting that endurance and persistence were vital when seeking capital.

For his part, the chairperson of the organising committee, Mr Anthony Rasetshwane said the  purpose of the expo was to create a platform for the youth of Kgatleng and the rest of the country to participate and showcase their goods and services.

He said the expo has grown in the number of exhibitors and the audience.

Mr Rasetshwane attributed the growth of the expo to the Dinokeng village leadership, saying had it not been for their support they might not have survived.

He said since the inception of the expo they had a five-year plan which was successfully implemented, but that they still needed to market the expo and attract more exhibitors and spectators.

He advised the youth to be positive and have faith that they would grow and leave a footprint in the economy and the hearts of Batswana.

He noted that the idea of the expo was once a dream but was now a big event.

The patron of DYEE, Mr Thapelo Tsheole expressed gratitude to all their sponsors for contributing to the success of the expo. 

He said their input was huge as they were investing in the future leaders and ensuring the sustainability of economic diversification.

Giving welcome remarks, Kgosi Michael Balebetse said he was happy that his village continued to get recognition through the expo which has been running for three years.

He said the expo gave youth businesses an opportunity to learn how to run their businesses, adding that they should work hard to grow their enterprises.

Kgosi Balebetse also implored the youth to become producers and not consumers so that they could raise the economy of the district and the country. 

He emphasised that his village’s development could be spearheaded by the youth. ENDS