16 Feb 2021

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry has undertaken a plan to attract investors in the country through the Domestic Investment and Retention Strategy.

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Molebatsi Molebatsi in response to a question from the Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Mr Oabile Regoeng on Monday.

Mr Molebatsi said in 2011/2012, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) conducted a regional opportunities mapping across the country to identify available investment opportunities across various districts in the country to facilitate potential investors to those respective localities.

“The opportunities identified include Mining, Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Fish Farming, Poultry, Energy in different areas,” he said.

Upon completion of the study, Mr Molebatsi stated that the opportunities were shared with local authorities through their respective full council meetings and other stakeholders, including the land boards.

The opportunities were shared to contribute to the Local Economic Development strategies under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the ministry through BITC continued to embark on domestic investment outreach programmes in an endeavour to engage potential investors across the country to promote, stimulate and highlight those regional opportunities.

“The ministry hosts business forums, investor aftercare visits and #PushaBW activation activities in order to grow the local industry and market local products. The establishment of the Botswana One-Stop Shop both in Gaborone and Francistown is meant to facilitate investors to set up in different areas in the country,” said Mr Molebatsi.

As part of the efforts, he said, the ministry was also engaged in linking potential domestic and foreign investors with cooperatives, as part of a broader National Co-operatives Transformation Strategy.

He pointed out that the strategy aimed to develop new generation co-operatives based on modern business models and practices.

In addition, he pointed out that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the ministry was undertaking the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), whose objective aimed to empower SMMEs by developing their productive capacities and linking them with potential buyers.

“CEDA also continues to finance citizen companies, including co-operatives to set up businesses in different sectors throughout the country,” he added.

Mr Molebatsi explained that the decision to establish businesses in different areas in the country is a business decision by respective investors.

The Molepolole North legislator had asked if the ministry had any deliberate plan to attract investors to rural areas (outside Special Economic Zones (SEZs)) through the Economic Diversification Drive.

Mr Regoeng also wanted to know which areas were primarily targeted.  Ends