31 May 2018

Government has constituted a special committee of cabinet to identify ways of revitalising the SPEDU region and to address issues hindering progress.

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Ms Bogolo Kenewendo revealed this when addressing the Selebi Phikwe Town Council recently.

She assured councillors that the SPEDU region revitalisation strategy had been formulated and was being implemented.

Quoting President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Ms Kenewendo said the intensification of government efforts to revitalise the economy of the region was in response to  challenges experienced due to the closure of the BCL mine.

As part of revitalisation strategy, she said, government had developed incentives to attract direct investment into the region including a five per cent tax for businesses setting up in Selebi Phikwe and a 10 per cent tax after the projects had gained ground.

Ms Kenewendo said a 30 per cent government off-take in locally produced goods had also been agreed upon to empower local manufacturers and producers. as well as expediting land servicing and provision on a minimum of 50-year lease to investors.

She said input costs on provision of internet connectivity would also be considered to motivate businesses as well as labour laws dealing with employer and employees relations.

The minister indicated that her ministry, in collaboration with SPEDU, have taken charge of the implementation of the strategy stating “SPEDU and Selebi Phikwe remain a priority.”

“Botswana One Stop Service Centre, which looks at streamlining processes for investors, is also a priority to ease doing business,” Ms Kenewendo said.

She said the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, who is also Selebi Phikwe East MP, was responsible for coordinating all efforts by different ministries and departments in realising the resuscitation of the SPEDU region economy.

She called on local authorities to support government and SPEDU on the initiative.

Minister Kenewendo thanked the town council for a confirmed partnership with her ministry citing the availing of 1000 hectares of land for the Special Economic Zone (SEZA) initiative.

She said her ministry will be working with SPTC, SPEDU and SEZA in servicing the land availed.

She commended SPEDU for  progress in implementing the revitalisation strategy citing the reported creation of some 50 jobs on a monthly basis for locals.

“We are looking forward to increasing the number of jobs being created,” she said.

Ms Kenewendo said government had put in place a National Transformation Agenda geared at  transforming the nation and improving the lives of Batswana.

She said her ministry had a key role to play in the strategy promising they would do their best to realise its objectives.

The minister was accompanied by her assistant, Mr Moiseraele Goya, ministry senior officials and chief executive officers of parastatals under the ministry. ENDS