08 Aug 2019

The Grant Thornton Private Business Growth Awards have grown significantly since its inception, Investment, trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Ms Peggy Serame has said. 

Officiating at the awards ceremony on August 7, the permanent secretary said participation was from only 16 companies from six locations in the first year but now it stood at over 115 companies from 30 locations covering all the 10 districts. 

She revealed that the widespread reach and inclusiveness of the awards had given businessmen and women an opportunity to be recognised from all corners of the country. 

The Grant Thornton’s private business growth awards were launched in 2015 as a platform to recognise local businesses or groups with growth strategies that encompass a broad range of activities such as innovation, market development, people and culture and financial measures. 

The permanent secretary encouraged local businesses to align their long-term strategies with the innovative technology that the world has to offer and establish Botswana as a key business player in the region. 

Ms Serame said that since inception, the awards had cultivated a healthy competitive behaviour amongst private businesses, stimulating their productivity and growth. 

This year the awards included the introduction of a new category titled ‘women owned business and pride mark user’ which aims to encourage gender diversity as well as promotion of the Botswana brand. 

The award, she said encouraged diverse participation and as such must be applauded. 

She challenged the private sector to form partnerships and develop initiatives that support the country’s vision adding that the award’s objectives were clearly aligned to the mandate of ministry which is to create a conducive environment for investment formation and development of sustainable industries. 

For her part the global leader of network capabilities, Grant Thornton International Ms Francesca Lagerberg said the awards had helped to create a diverse culture which is good for business and has atapulted a number of women to senior positions. 

She pointed out that they had created a platform where everyone would realise their full potential. Ends