08 Jul 2018

In a move to attract foreign direct investment and explore business opportunities for its members, Business Botswana has cast its net wide to build relations with members of the Diplomatic Corps - a critical linkage to business.   

Delivering a keynote address in a meeting with ambassadors and high commissioners representing various countries, Business Botswana President Mr Gobusamang Keebine said Botswana had a relatively small population, hence the need to explore external market opportunities to grow the country’s economy. 

He noted that the meeting would pave the way to finding effective ways of locating strategic business partners internationally, through use of relevant avenues such as the chambers of commerce in their individual countries. 

“As Business Botswana we call on you, Your Excellencies to call on your chambers of commerce so that we can engage, so that we can learn from them,” he stated.

Further, Mr Keebine noted that the objective of the gathering was to introduce the business advocacy organ, which was established in 1971 as BOCCIM, to critical stakeholders to exchange ideas and address loopholes that curtail businesses from thriving.

He noted that Business Botswana was an apex private sector representative recognised by government as a chamber of commerce, which re-branded four years ago and represents all businesses across the board including Small Micro and Medium Enterprises.

Thus, he said, the role of the organisation was to influence government policy and legislation and engage in a constructive manner as well as to advocate for a business friendly environment in the country.

He noted that the country faced the challenge of ease of doing business, which affected attraction of foreign direct investment, “We have a long way to go to achieve ease of doing business,” he stated.

To this end, Mr Keebine said, Business Botswana shall host the National Business Conference in September where challenges that impede ease of doing business in the country shall be dealt with and encouraged ambassadors and high commissioners to participate in the forum.

For his part, property business magnate and Honorary Consulate of Thailand, and owner of Zambezi Corporation, Dr Ishmael Nshakazhogwe noted that it was pertinent to share investment opportunities in Botswana and expound on issues of international business joint ventures, as well as identify ways of improving foreign direct investment attraction. 

Thus he said, members of the Diplomatic Corps played a key role as a linkage to their countries and could greatly assist the business community by swiftly addressing challenges faced by businesses in their attempt to set up.

“We wanted this to be a time to share ideas, ambassadors and high commissioners must open their doors for members of Business Botswana to facilitate trade,” Mr Nshakazhogwe noted. ENDS