04 Sep 2017

The Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) has implored ministry management and parastatals under his ministry to ensure that the country achieves the 2036 vision pillar of Sustainable Economic development.

Speaking during the 6th Leadership Forum Review in Palapye on Friday, Minister Vincent Seretse said his ministry will undertake a number of initiatives under the National Development Plan 11 hence the importance of achieving everything through team approach.

Some of the initiatives he said include operationalisation of Special Economic Zones, Transfer of Consumer Protection Mandate to Competition Authority leading to the establishment of Competition and Consumer Tribunal, Implementation of SPEDU Revitalisation Strategy, Development of e-commerce strategy, Aggressive investment promotion drive as well as promotion of manufacturing sectors and related services.

Mr Seretse said a number of policy initiatives were required in order to locate and operationalise sustainable development as the core of NDP11.

He added that major programmes and projects such as manufacturing must be subjected to sustainability appraisal, planning and implementation during NDP11 to ensure that social, economic and environmental objectives were maximised and harmonised.

He said the 2036 pillar of Sustainable Economic Development states that the country will have a strong external focus while the main market will be outside the borders.

He said if achieved, the country’s economy will be diversified and private sector led with sustainable and viable opportunities.

Mr Seretse further said even though this country was ranked number one in having the most attractive markets, there were a number of areas relating  to doing business environment that need to be addressed hence a need to accelerate implementation of the doing business reform agenda.

He said 15 laws were therefore being drafted or reviewed to further improve the environment of doing business in this country.

He urged all stakeholders to work together in unison.

The leadership Forum Review is aimed at reviewing the strategic direction of the ministry for the 2017/2018 financial year and ensuring alignment of all departments and parastatals strategies with the priorities of government.

For her part MITI’s Permanent Secretary Ms Peggy Serame added that it was imperative to continue holding the leadership forum review as it accords the ministry leadership to jointly review progress achieved in the implementation of high level deliverables set for this financial year.

She urged members to commit to the implementation of resolutions agreed upon by the team before the next leadership forum.

The leadership forum agreed to five resolutions in the fifth leadership forum, where they agreed on developing an investment framework that enables investment through guaranteed or well packaged off-take mechanism.

All MITI parastatals were to procure locally, where the quality, quantity and price is acceptable in compliance with the Presidential Directive.

This also include delivering on the creation of 7 000 jobs over the next 24 months for SPEDU region as well as establishing an effective one-stop-shop for investors as well as targeting three domestic and three foreign investors of note for SPEDU region over the 2017/2018 financial year. ENDS