05 Jul 2018

The Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Moisiraele Goya says Botswana Export Development Authority(BEDIA) was allocated P20million in 2009 towards the establishment of its Mumbai office in India and purchasing residential property.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Goya stated that the Mumbai office was approved as a liaison office in line with the requirements in India.

He said the office was established in an endeavor to promote foreign direct investment from the Asian market.

Previous attempts to purchase a residential property in 2009, he said could not materialise due to restrictions imposed by the Reserve Bank of India, adding that currently the regional representative occupied a fully furnished rented house at a cost of over P1.2 million per annum.

He said the funds originally allocated were currently in the safe custody of Botswana Investment and Trade Center, pending the conversion process.

“A board decision has since been made to convert the India office into a Consulate/ Diplomatic office in order to unlock the restriction and make it make it possible for the house to be purchased,” he said.

Selebi Phikwe West MP,Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the Minister whether BITC(under former BEDIA) was allocated  money more than 10 years ago to purchase the official residence of the regional representative in India. ENDS