29 Nov 2018

Boteti residents have been urged to make optimal use of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) office and the associated business development services to explore opportunities and create employment.

The plea was made by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo during the official opening of the CEDA branch in Letlhakane on Tuesday.

She implored the residents of surrounding areas to take advantage of the office to venture into and grow other sectors of the economy.

Minister Kenewendo said CEDA provides subsidised financial assistance to citizen enterprises and inculcates the spirit of entrepreneurship. Since inception, she said, the agency has invested P150 million in the Boteti Sub-district, financing 135 projects and creating employment for 519 people.

She said P88 million had financed agricultural businesses, followed by property and manufacturing sectors at P32.8 million, leaving P27.7 million for services, while the newly created Mabogo-Dinku facility had to date disbursed P66 000 to four active groups, three of which were in Letlhakane and one in Mokubilo.

Minister Kenewendo said it was in view of the sizable portfolio and potential for growth in the region that CEDA found it necessary to re-open Letlhakane branch.

She indicated that opening the branch was part of her ministry’s plan to bring services to citizens throughout the country.

The ministry, she said, was also currently reviewing its footprint countrywide to ensure that there was balanced and inclusive service provision, by taking advantage of available infrastructure.

Minister Kenewendo said the ministry was also revamping investment promotion efforts as well as marketing of locally manufactured products and services in Botswana, regionally as well as internationally.

The process, she said, was undertaken by actively engaging the private sector to provide solutions for economic challenges, noting that whatever was done was for the consumer.

CEDA CEO Mr Thabo Thamane stated that one of the key deliverables of the agency’s new corporate strategy was to re-evaluate its footprint and presence, making a determination on where there is need to open new branches.

Mr Thamane noted that as part of the exercise, a decision was taken to re-open Letlhakane branch to service the Boteti region, which has a wide geographical spread.

He stated that to remain relevant and survive in today’s fast changing business environment, CEDA continuously reviews its business needs and reacts accordingly to changes in the business environment.

In order for the agency to grow, he said, it has to be visible in all corners of Botswana and indeed conveniently accessible.

He said the new branch would be operating as a satellite reporting to the Palapye branch with characteristics of a full branch.

The area MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said CEDA had played a major role in grooming businesses in Boteti East.

Mr Lelatisitswe said as the area MP he saw it fit and within his mandate to spearhead the return of CEDA so as to resuscitate the spirit of entrepreneurship in Boteti East. ENDS