13 Dec 2017

The fifth incubator under the custodianship of the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) was conceptualised as an ideal platform to incubate trainees with the view to impart practical, technical and business management skills on site.

Local Enterprise Authority in partnership with the Office of the President through the Poverty Eradication Coordinating Unit, funded the project.

Speaking at the graduation and launch ceremony held at Kutla Incubation Centre on December 12, Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Biggie Butale said the feasibility study confirmed the need for an incubation growth of entrepreneurship in Botswana.

The programme is considered pertinent because it exposes business people to both technical and business management skills within the shortest period of time, he added.

“Local Enterprise Authority has been mandated to inculcate the culture of entrepreneurship and develop SMMEs in Botswana. One way to achieve this is through interventions such as the Incubation Programme that we are witnessing today,” Mr Butale said.

Further, he said it was through such programmes that Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are empowered and motivated to build sustainable business and thereby diversify the economy of Botswana.

Mr Butale stated that Kutla Incubation Centre would provide an integrated support system for the unemployed people through empowering them with technical and business knowledge.

He said the facilities with technology development, business-related development, financing arrangements and other relevant components and support services would play a pertinent role in facilitating and motivating the creation and growing of small enterprises.

He further said the incubation was an appropriate tool for capacity building.

He said the government had continued with efforts of promoting entrepreneurship development and as part of those efforts, a number of policies, strategies and programmes had been developed.

“I also wish to implore you to utilise the support offered by government through entities such as Companies and Intellectual Property Authority, Citizen Entrepreneurship Development Agency, Botswana Bureau of Standards, Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board,’’ he said.

For his part, acting board chairperson for LEA, Mr Oagile Regoeng said he was grateful to the government for the programme as it would enable them to produce market-ready products.

The facility has 12 plants namely; toilet roll manufacturing, maize flakes manufacturing, biscuit and bread making, sunflower oil extraction, detergent liquid making, packaging solutions and tomato ketchup.

Mr Regoeng said LEA would organise interactive sessions for the graduates to collectively map a way forward to give them the support at all times. ENDS