21 Aug 2017

Assistant Minister of Investment Trade and Industry Mr Biggie Butale wants women to exploit opportunities presented by Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and create employment for locals.

Speaking during Women in Leadership Breakfast forum in Phakalane on Saturday Mr Butale encouraged women to make use of the AGOA which was signed into law in 2000 by the US government.The initiative was meant to offer incentives to African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets.

Mr Butale encouraged women to manufacture goods where Botswana products would enter the United States of America market duty free and quota free. The minister said he aspired to see 40 000 jobs created locally in the next seven years when the current AGOA trade window would still be open.

The USA Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration Trade statistics show that trade between Botswana and USA was going on an upward trend. The Sub Saharan Africa trade data between Botswana and USA reflect that exports from USA to Botswana in 2015 made up US$ 39.04 million which in 2016 increased to US$ 42.31 million.

Further, the statistics show that in 2015 America imported products from Botswana amounting to US$ 211.91 million which in 2016 increased to US$ 434.16 million.
Thus, Mr Butale encouraged women leaders to make use of the AGOA incentive and service USA markets hence employment creation for locals.

Further he encouraged women to seek for information at Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) which he said was equipped with all the necessary information women can tap into and ready themselves to penetrate the US market.

Giving a word of encouragement to women leaders, former cabinet minister  Dr Gaositwe Chiepe encouraged women to transcend gender stereotypes and aim to succeed against all odds.

Sharing her life story with women she encouraged them to never see themselves to be any different from men adding that they have equal opportunities to lead.

The first woman cabinet minister,  said women should aim to achieve higher and not be reduced to be wives only. She added that the key to unlocking opportunities for women was for them to get education and go all out to create opportunities for themselves rather than expect to be given leadership positions on a silver platter.

“Just do your work. Do not expect to be given on a silver platter, focus and you will get there,” she said.

The speakers spoke at a Breakfast seminar organised by director of Hlanganani Information Communication Technology eLearning Botswana Ms Boitshepo Bolele who sought to motivate women to look beyond gender stereotypes. T

he event was graced by amongst others, author of Equal but Different book Dr Judy Dlamini, Former United Nations director of Regional Support Team Professor Sheila Tlou, chief executive officer of Business Botswana Dr Racious Moatshe, and President of Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Ernest Mahlaule. Ends