22 Apr 2019

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) is in consultations with the business community regarding the Doing Business Reforms Roadmap (DBRR) that was approved by cabinet through a presidential directive in 2014.

The DBRR report was prompted by a collaboration between the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the World Bank Group to support economic diversification and competitiveness in the country.

The report has also led to a proposed trade bill enactment that will be debated before Parliament soon.

Briefing the business community in Jwaneng recently, a commercial officer from MITI, Mr Kabelo Mosimanyana said an improved climate of doing business, as proposed by the DBRR report, would not only improve Botswana’s ranking in global competitiveness and doing business, but would also help drive economic diversification.

He said the proposed trade bill seeks to help ease doing business through factors such as reducing the number of licences required to operate a business and abolishing inspections of premises for trades that did not pose a threat to public health and safety. He added that inspections would be on risk based factors.

Mr Mosimanyana said the bill also seeks to move away from licensing trades that did not have health and safety concerns. He added that it was vital for the ministry to engage the business community and get their input on the bill before it was presented to Parliament.

In his vote of thanks, the chairperson of the trade licensing committee for Jwaneng Township, Mr Peter Mooketsane said the proposals were good news for the business community if they could be coupled with implementation rather than just talk. He said their intention was to operationalise the bill as soon as it was made into law.

He also pleaded with locals to cease fronting for foreign business people, especially on businesses that were reserved for locals.

“I would advise you to rather partner with foreigners than fronting for them because partnering would give you an opportunity to gain knowledge and expertise from them,” he said.

Mr Mooketsane also warned that the easing of doing business would come with strict regulations. He also urged local business people to improve the quality of their products.

Jwaneng acting town clerk, Mr Richmond Mahehe also said the input of the business community was vital as it would inform the final product
ENDS