06 Aug 2018

Lobatse deputy district commissioner, Ms  Kolobetso  Sejakgomo says the objective of the annual Lobatse  mini-show is to promote and market locally produced products, including those by beneficiaries of government economic empowerment programmes.

Speaking at the annual mini-show recently, Ms Sejakgomo said the event was intended to enable entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and explore market opportunities as well as to encourage the production of competitive and quality goods for both the local and international markets.

The chairperson of Lobatse  Business Forum Botswana, Ms Patricia Tomlinson said Batswana have to be grateful that government, through the Local Enterprise Authorities (LEA), has provided them with opportunities to showcase products as well as share ideas on how to improve and deal with challenges that they faced in the entrepreneurial world.

Ms Tomlinson said the mini-show was also an opportunity for the public to know and be able to locate entrepreneurs when they needed their products and services.

She said such events could assist entrepreneurs to help each other to produce quality products for consumption by both the local and international market.

She said there was no doubt that quality local handicraft products were ready to penetrate both the national and international markets, and help the nation to compete in the global arena.

She encouraged exhibitors to continue to improve, benchmark and network with well-established entrepreneurs to improve their skills and knowledge.

She reiterated government’s determination to address poverty head on through promoting the nexus between social development, job creation and inclusive growth.

She said the poverty eradication programme was committed to ensuring that every able bodied Motswana, who was categorised as poor, steps out of poverty and embarks on a wealthy and dignified living.

Councillor for  Boswelatlou ward, Mr Themba Setimela encouraged Batswana to look for programmes that could change their standard of living, and urged those who were already enrolled in programmes to unite and create big companies that could create jobs for many Batswana.

The mini-show was held under the theme: “Discovering local treasures and expanding business opportunities.” ENDS