06 Jun 2018

Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Moiseraela Goya has told Parliament that eight Special Economic Zones (SEZ) sites have been identified.

He said out of the eight sites, SSKIA, which deals with logistics, pharmaceuticals, diamond beneficiation, aircraft maintenance and repairs, has made progress by consolidating SEZ and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana to form SSKI SEZ.

Other sites at Gaborone Fairgrounds is financial services while Selebi-Phikwe is mixed use like base metal beneficiation, chemical manufacturing and agro business.
In Francistown it is mining and logistics, Palapye is coal beneficiation, Tuli Block is horticulture, Pandamatenga is agro-business and Lobatse has been identified for meat and leather.
 

He said the master plan for urban and landscape designs has been finalised and was awaiting the Minister of Lands, Water and Sanitation Services’ approval.

He also said conferring of the eight sites as SEZ was to be finalised during 2018 whilst master planning and land servicing.

For the remaining seven sites, Mr Goya said suitable land had been identified and that consultations with local authorities, councils, district administration and land boards  were ongoing.

The assistant minister said conferring of the eight sites as SEZ’s was to be finalised during 2018 while master planning and land servicing of the seven sites was intended to be completed by December 2018 and March 2020 respectively.  Furthermore, Mr Goya said the sale and marketing of all sites started in April 2018 where potential developers and investors were profiled.

Mr Batshu had asked the minister to provide the House with a detailed milestone chart (delivery plan) for the establishment of Special Economic Zones in Botswana. Ends