10 Jul 2017

Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) chief executive officer (CEO), Mr Thapelo Tsheole has implored Batswana to exploit business opportunities.

Officiating at the Ghanzi District Show on Friday, Mr Tsheole said opportunities for thriving economic zones like Ghanzi were viable to be exploited.

“I personally view Ghanzi as the most strategic zone in Botswana, and it is no secret that my organisation recently hosted an open day for residents of Ghanzi because we want to tap into the investor base of Ghanzi,” he said.

He said farmers should not only produce cattle in Ghanzi, but should also establish factories that process cattle by-product such as a bio gas plant using cow dung.

“We look to the people of Ghanzi to create industries around or interrelated to cattle to produce things such as toothpick and biltong,” said Mr Tsheole.

He said there should be no importation of cattle products such as biltong because the region was producing quality beef.

Mr Tsheole added that the show presented a platform to start such a business. “In Zambia, there is a company called Zambeef which is listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange.

On the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange they have the likes of SeedCo which is prominent in Botswana,” he stated, but regretted that in Botswana there was no agricultural company listed on the BSE.

This, he said, created an opportunity for Batswana to come to the market, list their farms and run them professionally to access money from investors.

He said selling shares would increase production and profitability, and that once listed in the stock market one would share the risks with investors.

He added that production would increase, business would expand and the company would contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He told the audience that by exhibiting at the show, companies wanted the public to use their services.

“Ghanzi is a district of choice because it presents a lot of opportunities. Mines are opening in Ghanzi region, there is no reason to get services elsewhere than Ghanzi region,” he said.

Furthermore, the BSE CEO said the Ghanzi show was an icon of progressive growth given its contribution to the country’s agricultural output, especially the beef industry.

He said the show promoted networking and learning opportunities, and also supported employment creation through the many agro-tourism businesses and retail businesses to augment the show’s core activities. He urged Batswana to be involved in such activities.

Mr Tsheole said the theme: Sustainable economic diversification beyond 50 years through green technology, emphasised the growing importance of economic diversification and focus on green products.

He said the theme gave an opportunity to reflect and acknowledge the contribution of agriculture to the economy, and that it challenged Batswana to harness agriculture sustainably beyond 50 years of independence in order to diversify the economy.

He encouraged Batswana to use and explore environmentally friendly practices or green technology so as to avoid complications that could be brought by global warming. ENDS