01 Aug 2021

 Botswana is continually reviewing its economic policies and procedures with a view to improving the ease of doing business. 

To that end, government aims for internationally accepted standards or better to encourage investors to set up in the country. 

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi, said this at the official opening of Khoemacau Copper mine Friday. 

He said government was acutely aware that only an investor friendly and supportive environment could help the government in its job creation drive.  “We are alive to the fact that Botswana’s investor friendliness and political stability are key to attracting foreign direct investments and domestic investment as well as viable value adding operations such as those demonstrated by progress made by management and staff of the mine,” he said. 

Equally important, he said, was the ability by government to showcase feasible investment opportunities and explore markets that could generate value for Botswana and Batswana, all of which needed investor friendly laws. Mr Moagi said the government was eagerly pursuing a transformational agenda that would ensure mineral revenue diversification, as guided by the Minerals Policy. 

“It clearly states our need as a country to look beyond diamond mining in order to improve diversification. There is a need for the mining sector to take advantage of growth in coal and copper nickel areas and monetise it for the benefit of government and in essence for the benefit of Batswana”. 

He said the government was eager to maximise mining sector revenue and invest in other critical areas. 

The minister also indicted that he would try to table the Botswana Minerals Policy during the current sitting of Parliament. The policy aims to promote maximum deployment of mineral revenue to the nation while enabling private investors to earn competitive returns. 

The policy will also facilitate creation of a competitive environment to stimulate private sector investment in mineral development. 

It will also help to create linkages with the rest of the economy, generate employment opportunities and support the conservation and protection of the environment. 

Mr Moagi said mining continued to be the largest contributor to the GDP and a major contributor to government fiscal revenue. Government was as such pleased to engage and collaborate with businesses such as Khoemacau mine as they were critical stakeholders in government transformation agenda. 

Speaking at the same occasion Ngami MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, said the mine would bring economic diversification to Nhabe. He said the region’s main income generators in tourism and beef industries, had been hard hit by COVID-19 and animal disease outbreaks, and the mine was a silver lining in a dark hour. 

He hoped the mine would adopt a sustainable mode of operation whose benefits would trickle down to the community. 

“What is key is the sustainability of the mine operations and support towards economic activities to improve the livelihoods of the community,” he added. 

He appreciated that the mine supported small businesses and hoped it would continue to assist the community through it corporate social responsibility drive. BOPABy Esther Mmolai 

 

TOTENG – Botswana is continually reviewing its economic policies and procedures with a view to improving the ease of doing business. 

To that end, government aims for internationally accepted standards or better to encourage investors to set up in the country. 

Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Mr Lefoko Moagi, said this at the official opening of Khoemacau Copper mine Friday. 

He said government was acutely aware that only an investor friendly and supportive environment could help the government in its job creation drive.  “We are alive to the fact that Botswana’s investor friendliness and political stability are key to attracting foreign direct investments and domestic investment as well as viable value adding operations such as those demonstrated by progress made by management and staff of the mine,” he said. 

Equally important, he said, was the ability by government to showcase feasible investment opportunities and explore markets that could generate value for Botswana and Batswana, all of which needed investor friendly laws. Mr Moagi said the government was eagerly pursuing a transformational agenda that would ensure mineral revenue diversification, as guided by the Minerals Policy. 

“It clearly states our need as a country to look beyond diamond mining in order to improve diversification. There is a need for the mining sector to take advantage of growth in coal and copper nickel areas and monetise it for the benefit of government and in essence for the benefit of Batswana”. 

He said the government was eager to maximise mining sector revenue and invest in other critical areas. 

The minister also indicted that he would try to table the Botswana Minerals Policy during the current sitting of Parliament. The policy aims to promote maximum deployment of mineral revenue to the nation while enabling private investors to earn competitive returns. 

The policy will also facilitate creation of a competitive environment to stimulate private sector investment in mineral development. 

It will also help to create linkages with the rest of the economy, generate employment opportunities and support the conservation and protection of the environment. 

Mr Moagi said mining continued to be the largest contributor to the GDP and a major contributor to government fiscal revenue. Government was as such pleased to engage and collaborate with businesses such as Khoemacau mine as they were critical stakeholders in government transformation agenda. 

Speaking at the same occasion Ngami MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, said the mine would bring economic diversification to Nhabe. He said the region’s main income generators in tourism and beef industries, had been hard hit by COVID-19 and animal disease outbreaks, and the mine was a silver lining in a dark hour. 

He hoped the mine would adopt a sustainable mode of operation whose benefits would trickle down to the community. 

“What is key is the sustainability of the mine operations and support towards economic activities to improve the livelihoods of the community,” he added. 

He appreciated that the mine supported small businesses and hoped it would continue to assist the community through it corporate social responsibility drive. Ends