10 May 2022

Botswana’s regulatory framework and stable political climate make it an ideal destination for private sector investment, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Addressing a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) breakfast seminar organised by the Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC) in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday, he said in addition,  the country boasted a history of political stability and prudent economic policies.

Botswana also continuously worked to improve its business climate, especially the ease of doing business, said the President.

Describing Botswana as a rapidly developing country with an aggressive approach to Information Communication Technology, he mentioned that government was currently  restructuring to ensure more efficient service delivery.

President Masisi explained that the recent creation of  a Ministry of Entrepreneurship was among efforts being undertaken to further develop private enterprise.

He encouraged Western Cape based BPOs, which employed around 45 000 workers, to liaise with the new ministry to invest in Botswana and partner with local entrepreneurs. Dr Masisi said Botswana had invested heavily in education with 60 per cent of  its population  "a highly articulate and knowledgeable youth," which made BPO start-ups in the country highly feasible.

On the sidelines of the ongoing Mining Indaba, President Masisi also met international captains of industry operating in the mining exploration field as well as finance development institutions executives. He said Botswana  had good labour relations, solid legal and regulatory systems, sound macroeconomic policy, low levels of corruption and good sovereign credit ratings awarded by reputable international institutions.

Meanwhile, South African president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa who addressed the indaba the same day, said Southern Africa was the world’s heartbeat of mining.

He said in their engagement, Dr Masisi stressed the importance of Southern African states pooling resources to create a mining and mineral resource value addition hub in order to generate wealth and jobs. BOPA