16 Dec 2020

The PushaBW programme is one of the marketing campaigns under the Brand Botswana portfolio which aims to drive and instil prioritisation of local products procurement, says Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi. 

Mr Molebatsi said the marketing campaign seeks to drive ‘Buy Botswana’ and supports local businesses by marketing their products to consumers and driving awareness of the availability and diversity of local products in the market.

He said the objective was to excite consumers about the quality and variety of ‘home grown’ goods on offer. These also includes driving communities to buy local products to contribute to economic diversification and to support local producers with marketing activities that created awareness on their products.

The minister said other objectives were to provide public education on reasons to ‘Buy Botswana’ as well as to develop a local supplier database and market delivery channels to ease access to Botswana products and services. 

Mr Molebatsi further said one of PushaBW deliverables was to grow awareness of local products through various platforms, stating that to date over 170 companies had been profiled for free using print, electronic and digital media platforms.

“Retailers such as Square Mart, Spar, Choppies, Woolworths, CB Stores, Sefalana and Trans Africa have made a significant shift in enrolling local producers onto their local supplier development programmes and availing shelf space for local products,” he said.

He said another notable outcome was the ongoing onboarding of local products by the hospitality sector such as Cresta Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn and Peermont which have made concerted efforts in procuring from local producers.

He noted that a catalogue of local products had been developed to facilitate direct sourcing. “A commitment has been generated from key companies such as De Beers group and First National Bank Botswana Ltd as well as government institutions to source only Botswana made products as Christmas gifts for their 2020 gifting season and beyond,” he said.

He added that over 300 local companies had been accredited to use the PrideMark and were being facilitated through the #PushaBW campaign to obtain BOBS standards as well as international quality standards such as the organic and fairtrade certifications.

He said a key identifier of products and services facilitated through the #PushaBW campaign was accreditation to use the PrideMark (Brand Botswana Logo) which symbolised national endorsement.

Gaborone Central MP, Mr Tumisang Healy had asked the minister to update Parliament on the key mandate for Brand Botswana and to state the key mandate for ‘PushaBW,’ its deliverables and tools to measure its mandate. ends