06 Jul 2023

The US-Africa Business Summit billed for Royal Aria, Tlokweng from July 11-14 provides an opportune moment for marketing Botswana's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as premier investment destination.

In an interview recently  Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) Acting Director for Investor Attraction Ms Fidelity Monthe said the Summit would advance their mandate of attracting export-oriented investment, and fostering relations between Botswana and American business sectors, and the wider African continent.

She, therefore, noted that the aim was to promote downstream processing of raw materials to create value-added products for export. This is in line with the Summit theme: Enhancing Africa’s Value in Global Value Chains, she said.

Ms Monthe said the Authority was responsible for initiating, developing, managing, and regulating the operations of  SEZs, on behalf of the government.

This include marketing the SEZs as a premier destination for investment across the globe, citing that SEZA oversees nine SEZs and the targeted activities for these zones are Agro-processing, Manufacturing, Internationally Traded Services and Warehousing, Logistics, and Distribution.

Accordingly, Ms Monthe said with more than 1 000 and African private sector executives of multi-national corporations, international investors and senior government officials in attendance, the Summit presented an opportunity to engage in high-level dialogue and targeted business-to-business engagements and equally assessing their potential to set up in Botswana. In addition, she said those participating including the Botswana business network, would have access to delegates from the United States and across the African continent during the many plenaries.

Ms Monthe said a myriad of benefits for the business network included among others targeted business-to-business engagements, creation of contacts, and leads for trade, Investment, and/or future collaborations.

Also, this would encompass nurturing relations to stimulate more trade relations between US and African delegates and the signing of investment and trade deals, she said.

Ms Monthe said in line with the current development of the nation's brand strategy, the summit would help increase brand awareness for Botswana, citing improved spending on tourism, hotels, taxis, restaurants, and local service providers, including catering and technology providers.

"The ordinary Motswana, especially in the host city, also stands to benefit immensely. International delegates will spend their foreign currency in Botswana and some businesses will greatly benefit. The transport, aviation, accommodation, catering, event management service providers, etc. will benefit," she said.

Ms Monthe said the expectation was that the tourism sector including small and medium-sized enterprises would also profit from delegates spent during pre and post-summit excursions.Ms Monthe said registration was currently ongoing at www.usafricabizsummit.com where Botswana’s private sector can benefit from discounted ticket prices of approximately P7 000.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Association of Small Medium and Micro Enterprise Business in Botswana (ASMMEB), Mr Tshepo Makgalemele said 30 SMME's from under the auspices of LEA, CEDA and BITC Brand Botswana - PUSHA BW Campaign had been vetted to exhibit for free outside the plenary hall hosting the Summit.He said a summit of this magnitude usually attracted already well established businesses, however, he was glad that government had seen it befitting to invite SMMEs.

Mr Makgalemele said they were optimistic that participating members from the association would speak boldly about opportunities and challenges faced by SMMEs in Botswana.

The US-Africa Business Summit is organized by Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in Partnership with the Government of Botswana. CCA is the leading US business association focused solely on connecting business interests in Africa. To add impetus to ongoing efforts by government to revolutionise agriculture and spur the sector onward contribution to the national purse.ends