03 Aug 2023

Adequate funding is a necessity to enable the positive transformation and growth of the local manufacturing sector.  

It is of concern that some of the funding entities still resort inadequately fund some of the businesses ideas despite the business proposals submitted, that detailed costs of all business necessities.

The Managing Director at Vendor Expert (Pty) Ltd, Mr Tshephang Ramasankate said yesterday during the ongoing local manufacturing summit in Gaborone.

Mr Ramasankate said this has negatively crippled efforts by the manufactures towards establishing constructive viable businesses.

He elaborated that the manufacturing sector relied on the network of specialised infrastructure and equipment, therefore inadequate funding has pushed some of the manufacturers to the edge of using compromised resources.

The Vender Expert MD said this practise led to inefficiency and production of low quality goods that could not survive local and international markets competition.

Mr Ramasankate said inadequate funding was also detrimental and weakened the resilience of the supply chain, limit logistics and this caused in effectiveness towards the response to the market demands and challenges to meet the customers’ expectations.

He emphasised on the need for policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to ease and breakdown some of the policies for better understanding and implementation by some manufacturers.

Giving a presentation on market access, the Managing Director of Oxygas Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Mr Keamogetse Molebatsi noted that market penetration was a daunting exercise locally and internationally, however when one remained focused and committed to the exercise it was possible for positive outcomes.

Mr Molebatsi further encouraged manufactures to comply to the set marketing policies as this encouraged ethical business practises.

He said manufacturers should also look out for local partnerships and networking as it also made a difference in enabling market penetration.

For his part, the Supplies Development Manager at Debswana, Mr Lere Matebesi encouraged manufacturers to strive for quality production, he said it was a way to cut down importing goods from other neighbouring countries. Ends