13 Jun 2021

Batswana businesses are top of government’s priorities, as such it is important to understand their successes, shortcomings and ambitions going forward.

This observation was made by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela when he visited Ultimex and Bolux milling companies in Taung Thursday. 

The purpose of the minister’s visit was to appreciate the successes accomplished by both companies, challenges faced in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures in place to address such challenges.

In an interview after closed door meetings with management of both companies, Mr Kgafela said government would look at policies and take steps to reduce the regulatory burden on citizen companies.

He said they would also establish mutual links between small businesses and large companies, whose dominance on the local market was a big concern to local entrepreneurs. 

He said most small businesses were concerned that government seemed to have turned a blind eye to the dominance, but he promised to look further into the matter. 

He said the positive factor that the big businesses had was the provision of employment to many Batswana, especially youth. 

He said government was willing to support businesses to produce large volumes as the international community demanded such. He thus pleaded with established businesses to meet government half way.

Mr Terrence Peloewetse, Managing director of Ultimex, the company that has been contracted by government to produce Tsabana and Malutu, said the business could have grown faster, but faced serious challenges of lack of finance and debilitating effects of corruption.  

“The two are inextricably linked and our growth becomes limited. The banking fraternity is not availing working capital. They are happy to finance these structures, but not capital to drive the asserts,” he said. 

Mr Peloewetse stressed the need to establish development banks for purposes of assisting establishment with working capital and was hopeful that the ministers’ visit would address such issues. 

When giving an overview of his company, managing director of Bolux Group, Mr Christo Ellis said the company, which was established in 1985, was the national supplier of staple foods employing about 620 people. 

He said their corporate social responsibility investment initiatives were predominantly focused on the Ramotswa and Taung areas, specifically addressing youth education and community welfare. 

He said the company empowered local farmers though the purchase of white maize. 

He said they had plans to invest over P250m to keep sustain Bolux for another 35 years and beyond. 

He said the COVID-19 pandemic changed the business environment, siting transportation among several other challenges. ENDS