26 Jan 2020

Excellent customer service is a key determinant to attracting more clients, the Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development Mr Mpho Balopi has said.

Officially opening Youth Pitso in Gabane on Saturday the minister described the youth as a great asset and advancement of the global economy. He said though government was committed to finding means of empowering the youth, it could not achieve this alone and urged private sectors to come on board.

“According to the quarterly multi-topic survey, labour force module report quarter three of 2019 conducted by statistics Botswana, the overall unemployment rate is estimated at 20.7 per cent and the mostly affected the age bracket is between 25-29 years.

This has motivated the youth in Gabane to come up with the strategies to try and address the situation hence the Gabane youth business pitso” he said.  

Mr Balopi noted that since its inception in 2015,  the Pitso has been committed to uplifting the community in which it operates as well as the general public by hosting the annual event.

He further noted the event had since attracted multitudes of youth across the country, businesses, media, government officials and community leaders across various industries.

“I am a business man and I attach great value to every thebe spent on any project, I therefore look at each one of these youth as investment from which there must be dividends and quality products,” he said.

He said Pitso was an investment  and future building block for the country’s development path, and that it was important to invest towards youth development because youth were value adding investments that shape the country’s future as well as ensuring business continuity.

“This is an important initiative as it would not only motivate us to intensify our efforts to address issues of unemployment but would also encourage other stake holders to come on board to assist, he said.

He said the theme: Customer Experience is the Ultimate Business Driver,  was the key in any business enterprise, whether small or large adding that it was critical for all to appreciate the value of their customers.

Mr Balopi advised the entrepreneurs that they should not take their customers for granted as they were the primary ingredients for the growth of any business.

He further mentioned the importance of Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in creation of employment which leads to growth in economy hence the need to encourage and support small businesses to thrive through excellent customer relations.

 Mr Balopi therefore urged the entrepreneurs to make it a mission to wow their customers in order to give them unforgettable customer experience thereby creating long lasting relationships. ENDS