24 Sep 2019

Botswana captains of industry on an investment mission in Germany have been selling the country as presenting unique opportunities for foreign investors. 

During a panel discussion at the ongoing Botswana Investment Promotion Drive on September 23, panelists said opportunities available for exploitation in Botswana coupled with the good business environment the country had cultivated over the years, ensured that investors got value for money.

Mr Reginald Selelo of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), said Botswana's position at the centre of southern Africa made the country a gateway not only to the region but to the rest of the continent.

Mr Selelo said in addition to having maintained macro-economic stability over the years, Botswana had also maintained consistency in its policies, which was enough assurance of investment stability.

Having started off among the 10 poorest countries in Africa, Botswana’s sound development patterns had seen it transform into an upper middle income economy ahead of better endowed economies, he said.

Mr Selelo said Botswana also boasted of good infrastructure that could adequately support international investors.

Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) chief executive officer, Ms Mmantlha Sankoloba appealed to German businesses to consider investing in Botswana  where they were assured of success.Ms Sankoloba said government consistently came up with forward-looking policies and pieces of legislation to facilitate the growth of the private sector.

Responding to a question on whether the Botswana market could adequately support major enterprises, Ms Sankoloba said being the small market it was,  the country had mastered the art of accessing outside markets.

Admitting that the domestic market was indeed limited, she said consequently Botswana was consistently looking outward to identify potential markets it could tap into.

From Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), Dr Racious Moatshe shared the sentiments that Botswana was better positioned to export goods and services to the rest of the world.

Dr Moatshe observed that Botswana businesses would benefit immensely if the Germans partnered with them as they possessed great expertise in many fields.

German skills and expertise, he said, would help Botswana realise, among other things, its aspirations regarding initiatives such as the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD).

He said lack of appropriate skills in certain sectors continued to be impediments to the realisation of programmes such as EDD.As for areas of possible investment by German companies,  Dr Moatshe cited horticulture, piggery, dairy and small stock as some of the many sectors where Botswana needed assistance.

Mr Moatlhodi Lekaukau of the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) assured the German business community of the stability of utilities supply in Botswana.Mr Lekaukau, who was answering a question, said with the many companies it was operating, BDC had not had any power and water supply challenges.

 He said  Botswana was among African countries with the most stable power supply adding that the country was in the process of increasing its power production with the view to export.

 Mr Kenneth Syanjibu of the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) said Botswana was not only in the process of expanding its power supply network, but was also refurbishing its power plants to enhance security of supply.

 Mr Udo Wolter, a German business owner, had asked the panelists what, given the size of the market Botswana offered, could guarantee market access to potential investors.

 He had also wanted to know whether Botswana had reliable power and water supplies to enable big enterprises to operate without utility supply-related disruptions.

 The investment promotion drive, organised by the Botswana Embassy in Germany, runs until Friday. Ends