Briefing the media on the ministry’s 2021/2022 budget yesterday, Minister Peggy Serame said the projects included development of a leather park in Lobatse at a cost of P150 million.

Ms Serame revealed that the key preparatory activities for the park had been completed.

The activities included the environmental impact assessment as well as the development and approval of the environmental management plan, she said.

Ms Serame said drawings and designs for the park had also been completed while the Lobatse Town Council had already issued the building permit.

She explained that the project would be delivered through three work packages being bulk infrastructure provision, procurement of tannery equipment and construction of buildings and warehouses.

Another project, Ms Serame said, was the design and construction of four investor and advanced factory shells at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport for which P25 million had been allocated.

The project was awaiting approval of funds while the tendering process had commenced, she said.

Minister Serame said P10 million had been allocated for enterprise competitiveness adding that 58 Gaborone and Francistown enterprises had already been enrolled for this year and were currently undergoing mentorship.

For Maun and Letlhakane, enrolment of enterprises was going to start in September with advisory sessions, she said.

Ms Serame further revealed that 68 young people who attended a strengthening rural youth development enterprise programme were undergoing aftercare with 100 newly enrolled for the core skills in Jwaneng and Letlhakane.

A local consultant, in partnership with Technoserve, were currently assessing four sectoral value chains to support value-chain directed market access, said the minister. ENDS