26 Oct 2022

The transport sector remains key in inter-linking all sectors of the economy through provision of services that permit economic growth and mobility by enabling access to resources and amenities.

Ministry of Entrepreneurship deputy permanent Secretary, Mr Lameck Nthekela said this at the Frotcom Intelligent Fleets’ second annual convention yesterday.

The convention provided a forum for fleet professionals to exchange ideas related to current trends and emerging issues associated with planning, strategies and execution under facilitation of experienced training experts in fleet, transportation and logistics including cost management.

Mr Nthekela said the fundamental purpose of this year’s convention was to exchange views on how to unlock opportunities and concurrently balance the rising pressure on producing impactful results in the midst of a global inflation, pandemics and other economic challenges faced by the country.

He therefore appealed to delegates to further engage and reflect on the achievements attained and challenges the industry had gone through as the country was emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We must acknowledge that the transport sector interlinks all sectors of our economy. However, there are some critical challenges that still persist within the industry such as the tumultuous activity within the oil industry that has had a heavy impact on the economic activities through the skyrocketing of energy or fuel prices,” he said.

He said the Ministry of Entrepreneurship’s portfolio encompassed a number of areas, including enterprise development and coordination, small business development policy, wealth creation, citizen economic empowerment, coordination of value chains and women economic empowerment, adding that was particularly in alignment with the Frotcom Intelligent Fleets’ strategic intent.

Mr Nthekela also stated that government, through coordinated facilitation, provided the necessary support and conducive environment for enterprises such as Frotcom Botswana.

He added that the company had provided a platform for fleet professionals as well as others in the industry to interactively engage, exchange experiences, best practices and ideas related to the resources crisis management.

“This indeed is by far commendable because it is closely aligned to our strategic objectives as the Ministry of Entrepreneurship. Paramount is to foster an entrepreneurship mind-set, promote business enterprise and achieve diversity, equity and inclusion by doing so through our various programmes and initiatives,” he said.

He told delegates to further leverage on initiatives brought forth by Frotcom to assist in developing industry relevant strategies, managerial ideologies and policies that would help alleviate the struggles brought on by simultaneous emerging issues.

The initiative, he said, fell within the ministry’s mandate of providing leadership and overall policy direction, strategy and standards on business development.

For her part, Frotcom Intelligent Fleet chief executive officer, Ms Lindiwe Masuku said the convention was vital to allow them as transport and logistics professionals to competitively perform in the existing trying and changing times.

“Frotcom continues to facilitate these world class engagements to ensure we are in touch with trends and professional development in fleet management. Cost management and fuel management being critical elements today we are very confident that our professionals will deliver an engagement that will benefit us,” she said.

She said they would continue to offer annual engagements that were topical and relevant and would have various transport sectors represented and possibly government. Ends