13 Mar 2018

Some parastatals under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) have urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of their services to grow their businesses.

Representatives from parastatals such as Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) and from Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) made the plea when sensitising entrepreneurs about their mandates, services offered and opportunities they could tap into to grow their businesses and exploit the market. Communication specialist at BITC, Mr Tsoso Ealotse urged them to take part in the annual Global Expo Botswana (GEB) in order to reach better markets.

The global expo is Botswana’s annual premier business to business exhibition organised and managed by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) on behalf of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). Mr Ealotse told entrepreneurs that their participation in the expo would be a welcome development, as the expo’s objective was to attract investments, promote imports, exports and joint venture partnerships between local and foreign companies.

The event, which is a multi-sectoral exhibition, is aimed at promoting a wide array of goods and services that could be showcased with a view to creating a platform for companies to interact, exchange contacts and discuss business opportunities as well as engage in trade activities.

He also briefed the gathering about the mandate of his organisation, stating that it played a critical role in driving the country’s economic growth through investment promotion and attraction, export promotion and development and the management of the Nation Brand.

He added that BITC, through its critical role within the country’s economy, also encouraged domestic investment and expansion. He also said it promoted locally manufactured goods in regional and international markets as well as contributing towards the improvement of the investment climate through policy advocacy, adding that it also increased citizen participation in the economy and creating sustainable job opportunities.

The gathering was also briefed about the importance of the Nation Brand which serves to bring Batswana together around a single identity and agreed set of values in order to stimulate stronger communities, culture and heritage and instill a greater sense of pride and community engagement in the country.

Another presenter, customer advisor from Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Mr Venzunda Kuvare told the gathering that they assisted every Motswana to start a business or expand.

The organisation, he said, provided financial and technical support for business development with a view to promote viable and sustainable citizen owned business enterprises.

He said their financing catered for businesses such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, adding that they also assisted in the purchase order or tendering.

For her part, principal youth officer from MITI, Ms Ntebogang Mokgatle informed the gathering that the government wants to reduce the import bill hence the need to produce more.

She said the country imported goods which could be manufactured locally citing water. She said raw materials were abundant in the country and that it was worrisome as they were exported outside the country hence exporting jobs which could address the issue of unemployment. Ends