27 Jan 2024

Selibe Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) has been commended for successfully facilitating Pipe World, a company that manufactures PVC and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in Selebi Phikwe.

SPEDU was said to have been instrumental in facilitating the company to acquire all the necessary compliance documents and approvals to ensure that the company became operational.

The investors were also allocated a 3.2-hectare plot to set up the factory. Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry Ms Beauty Manake said officially opening the Pipe World project at Selebi Phikwe on January 26, that the project created 70 job opportunities during its construction phase and currently employed 20 people.

“It is expected that once fully operational, the project will create jobs for 100 people,” she said.

She said the company had invested P40m, which was locally sourced from two local financing institutions; a testimony to show that local financial institutions stood ready to finance feasible business proposals.

“I have the confidence that this company will contribute significantly to technology and skills transfer to the locals.”

The products from Pipe World company would be used in the construction industry such as sewer lines and electrical works and also in conveyance of portable water as well as in irrigation works.

She urged the company to support the community that they operated in through a comprehensive social responsibility plan as well as involve the local business community for services they might be seeking, in particular the small and medium enterprises.

Furthermore, she appealed to the various stakeholders to also commit to support companies that set up in the region, adding 'it is our combined effort to ensure that we procure from local manufacturers so that we build local capacity and untimely growth'.

She thanked other players such as Selebi Phikwe Town Council, Department of Environmental Affairs, Department of Lands, Botswana Power Corporation and Water Utilities,  for closely guiding the investor to reach this stage of achievement.

 Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse urged the company management to respect labour laws, health and safety laws and ordinances and ensure a safe working environment at all times.

He also informed them about the need for corporate social investment such as awarding of scholarships, installing Apollo tower light to illuminate some dark sides of the town not to donate blankets.

Mr Keorapetse further urged the company to employ locals and sub-contract local businesses of Selebi Phikwe for provision of goods and services.

Selebi Phikwe Town Council Mayor Mr Lucas Modimana said government had taken the initiative to make provision for land to make it easier for businesses interested in investing in Selebi Phikwe to operate.

He said government mobilised all the resources to facilitate the Pipe World project, adding that this showed government’s commitment to ensure that Batswana get do employment opportunities as well as improving the business eco-system in Selebi Phikwe.

 Pipe World chairperson, Ms Hongtao Yu thanked Ministry of Trade and Industry through SPEDU for their support.

She said the inception of Pipe World was due to the increasing demands for world class PVC and HDPE pipes in the country, adding that the company invested P40m to build a large scale factory in the country.

She said the first phase of the factory had been completed with a warehouse covering a space of 2000 square metres and four production lines.

The company manufactures 40mm to 50mm U-PVC pressure pipes for water supply and drainage system, mine pipes, agricultural irrigation as well as electricity pipes. ENDS