25 Feb 2019

Delay in the allocation of industrial plots has been identified as one of the challenges hindering entrepreneurship in Botswana. 

Speaking during a media tour of Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) mentored projects in Kweneng recently, chief executive officer, Dr Racious Moatshe said other challenges clouding the sector included shortage of utilities such as water and electricity, saying in Kweneng the situation had reached crisis point.

Advising entrepreneurs to wisely utilise and manage available resources, Dr Moatshe said LEA’s goal was to develop local entrepreneurs by ensuring that they got exposure and were able to market their businesses.

“In Botswana money is not necessarily a concern, the big issue is supporting the businesses to grow, primarily because we have a limited market so market access is one of those interventions we are offering. We also have to ensure that our clients manage the resources and the people that they have such that they remain productive,” he said. 

The organisation, he explained, offered business development services to aspiring and running entrepreneurs including advisory, mentoring and coaching, training, marketing and incubation, most of them free of charge.

“We help with processes that assist the product to enter the market like BOBS certification for the market to properly accept the product, and mentor them through the process, especially to those who are in production. Our training is also varied as there is one which is focused on finances, marketing, processes and system,” he said. 

He said for services not offered by LEA,  clients were referred to external stakeholders, adding that the organisation was looking into using available technology to enhance client efficiency.

Dr Moatshe called on government procuring entities and relevant stakeholders to procure products and services from local business as their growth depended on such support.

He advised government departments to join forces and help businesses to grow so that the rate of imported goods may reduce as well as help boost the economy.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs have commended LEA for helping them to grow their businesses by according them opportunities through endeavours such as business expositions which enabled them to penetrate the market.

A LEA beneficiary, Ms Atamelang Kooagile of Monate wa Temo Sorghum Milling said she identified her business through the organisation, adding that she was mentored from scratch as she did not have any business background. 

Ms Kooagile said LEA assisted by advising her to brainstorm a business idea which they later helped her polish as well as with the formulation of a business proposal and plan in preparation for funding acquisition.

“I would say LEA is my mother because I learnt about LEA when reading about their services from a newspaper. I then visited their offices for further explanation. They advised me to bring a business idea and to compile business proposal with which I managed to get funding from the ministry of youth,” said Ms Kooagile.

Other entrepreneurs also attested to the fact that LEA’s assistance with business plans helped them to acquire funding.

Businesses covered by the tour included Yalots Guest House, Camels Inn Lodge, Real Gumtree Investments, Dream Flavors, Billionaire Empire, Monate wa Temo and the Agri Stop. Ends