05 Sep 2013

Botswana’s competitiveness has improved yet challenges remain in areas of work ethic, government bureaucracy, access to finance and inadequate workforce. 

In the latest Global Competitiveness Index released by the World Economic Forum, Botswana has moved five places up to 74 out of 148 countries to become number four in Sub Saharan Africa and third in the SADC region after Mauritius and South Africa. 

Speaking at the launch of the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) on September 4, the Acting Minister of Trade and Industry Mr Keletso Rakhudu said educational systems should respond to the needs of labour markets. 

Mr Rakhudu further said education systems should help economies to avoid skills gaps and ensure adequately trained human capital is available to support business activity as well as to develop innovative capacity and entrepreneurship. 

Talking about poor work ethics, the acting minister said this had been cited as the most problematic factor for doing business in Botswana. He said this required all Batswana to introspect on their attitudes towards work and start making the necessary adjustments. 

Mr Rakhudu further said Botswana had been stuck in the transition stage from factor driven to an efficiency driven economy. 

“This is partly explained by our below-average performance in areas such Goods Market Efficiency and the state of our infrastructure,” he said. 

“Going forward, we are all going to have to pull together and combine our efforts to not only improve productivity but also to reduce our heavy dependence on the mining sector and to set the economy on a diversified growth path,” the acting trade minister said. 

He said encouraging, sustaining and enhancing growth required decisive action by everyone in order to boost Botswana’s competitiveness and future economic outlook.

“Effective reforms and the right set of investments to enhance competitiveness are crucial for economic transformation that can lead to higher growth over the long term,” he said. While poor work ethic remains Botswana’s most challenging factor, the country is noted for its reliable and transparent institutions.   ENDS