21 Nov 2019

Kasane will host the 23rd annual African Exchanges Association (ASEA) conference under the theme; Building Resilient African Capital Markets, from November 25-26.

In an interview with Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) head of Market Development, Ms Thapelo Moribame said the conference was a flagship for the ASEA which comprised membership of capital market players in 32 African countries.

She said every year different stock exchanges across Africa bid to host the conference and BSE bid to host it for the first time since its inception in 1993 indicating that hosting it was a big milestone for Botswana as normally bigger exchanges were the host.

Ms Moribame said last year the conference was held in Nigeria following Egypt and Rwanda in 2017 and 2016 respectively.

She said hosting the ASEA conference would help promote Botswana as conference destination in line with President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s vision and it would  expose the country’s capital markets across the world.

Ms Moribame said the conference which would be attended by about  300 delegates would give BSE exposure to the international investing community and it would benefit through interacting with global market participants and capital market expertise as well as get the spot light even after the conference.

She noted that while the membership of ASEA was 25 members from the African continent, delegates would be also from USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

Ms Moribame said the conference would provide platform for African exchanges, policy makers, global investors, issuers and intermediaries to connect and develop their knowledge, build valuable networks, explore emerging trends as they relate to the capital market and map out actionable initiatives that will drive the sustainable development of African financial markets.

At community level, Ms Moribame said conference which would be officiated by the President Masisi on November 25, would help contribute to the tourism sector and provide economic benefits to the Chobe community through boat cruises, game drives and craft sales.

She said BSE engaged local traditional groups to provide entertainment, engaged Kasane youth as ushers and mobilised the Taxi Association to assist with transportation and was optimistic that this would impact positively in the economy of Chobe.

She further said there would be a Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) stall where local weavers would be accommodated to sell their products to the delegates.

Ms Moribame said the conference would  promote the inflow into the Kasane tourism destinations as some delegates extended their stays beyond the conference in order to explore tourism sites in Kasane, as well as in the neighbouring countries because Kasane is a gateway to neighbouring Victoria Falls and other areas. ENDS