23 Apr 2019

Government is in the process of enacting trade legislation to cater for the ease of doing business in Botswana, says Assistant Minister of Investment Trade and Industry Mr Moiseraele Goya.

In his presentation at a business community consultative meeting on the Trade Bill in Palapye recently, Mr Goya said the Department of Consumer Affairs was  holding consultative meetings around the country to share information and seek advise as well as input from local businesses. 

Mr Goya,  who is also Palapye MP, said through the consultative meetings, information about the bill was disseminated to SMMEs while local businesses were given an opportunity to contribute to it. 

Government’s intention, he said, was to have business men and women operate in a conducive environment. 

“We want a law that is inclusive and all information or views presented here will be compiled,” he said. 

He said the proposed bill would be presented to Parliament during this year’s winter session. 

Mr Goya further said  local businesses needed to have an input in the diversification of  the economy because government could not achieve the objective alone. 

Department of Consumer Affairs director Ms Seipati Olweny said the organisation had been holding consultative meetings around the country since last year to inform local businesses about the proposed act.  

She said the reason for the meetings was to share ideas with local business communities, encourage them to play a role in diversifying the economy and remove any impediments experienced in doing business in the country. 

Ms Olyweny said the bill had cross-cutting provisions related to applications for licensing and registration of businesses.

In a nutshell, the bill was meant to simplify trade licensing procedures to ease doing business in Botswana, she said. ENDS