22 Sep 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has emphasised the importance of promoting young entrepreneurs.

Youth entrepreneurship would help to bring ostracised young people back into the economic mainstream and address some of the psychosocial problems that arose from joblessness, he told a global leadership council meeting in New York September 22.

“Entrepreneurship will also help youth to develop new skills and experiences and promote innovation and resilience.  As young entrepreneurs are particularly responsive to new economic opportunities and trends, they would be able to better adapt to the changing market,” he said.

Botswana, he said, recognised the importance of providing opportunities for youth to be skilled, empowered and employed. Dr Masisi said the country was therefore committed to creating an enabling environment and opportunities for youth entrepreneurs to prosper and stimulate the economy.

“Government is steadfast in introducing programmes that form part of an ecosystem for successful youth entrepreneurship. This is in response to the country’s youthful population,” he said.

Dr Masisi said the recent establishment of an entrepreneurship ministry was testament to government's commitment to promoting young entrepreneurs.

He said jobs in the context of the modern economy required government to pay attention to the climate change crisis.

Green transition was therefore imperative for young people, said President Masisi. The President pleaded with the international community to come on board to assist young people to realise their entrepreneurship desires which were important for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said there was an urgent need for equitable trading in line with commitment to attaining SDGs and creation of green jobs.

 President Masisi said Botswana was endowed with a lot of educated young people and ‘seeks investment in the human resource space to captivate the potential that the youth possess’.

Dr Masisi said the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement was a golden opportunity with potential to open new horizons for economic cooperation. Ends