23 Feb 2020

Maun business community has been encouraged to work as a team for the North West region to have a competitive edge over other regions.

That was said by a consultant with Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC), Mr Letsogile Batsetswe at a seminar in Maun recently. He also encouraged stakeholders to work together to see Maun economy grow and in turn have a positive impact on the country’s economy.

Mr Batsetswe observed that a lot was required to be done to make Botswana competitive against other countries in the world.

In general, he said Botswana was ranked 91 out of 141 countries according to the annual Global Competitiveness Index of 2019 done in partnership with the World Economic Forum.

The Global Competitiveness Index measures set of institutions, policies as well as factors that set sustainable current and medium-term levels of economic prosperity.

Mr Batsetswe further said Botswana scored average with positive developments in macro-economic stability, labour market and financial systems.

However, he said there were challenges in market size, innovation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and a decline in institutions.

On the other hand, Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry principal industrial officer, Ms Mmametsi Sitang informed the Maun business community that government had moved to standardise processes and reduce hindrances in doing business.

Ms Sitang said the Industrial Development Act of 2019 was expected to be incepted in April.

The Act, she said aimed to do away with inspection of premises for businesses that did not pose threat to public health and safety.

The other expectation of the Act, she said was to stop licensing for trades that did not have immediate health and safety concerns. She said licensing committees would also be abolished, therefore licenses and registration certificates would be issued over the counter.

She indicated that the current Trade Act of 2003 allowed issuance of licenses to 46 businesses while the new Act would allow issuance of licenses to 11 businesses, only which included fresh produce, take-away, funeral parlour, restaurant, filling station, hair and beauty parlour, cosmetic shop, agricultural shop, optician, pharmacy and gymnasium.

She said the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process review was also underway. ENDs