14 Mar 2024

Okavango Wilderness Safari (OWS) has been applauded for promoting entrepreneurship and innovation among Batswana through the inaugural Wilderness Local Expo 2024

The expo was appreciated for being a transformative initiative that would be an inspiration to many as it would create and nurture entrepreneurship in Ngamiland.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Mr Kabelo Ebineng, said this at the Expo on Wednesday.

The expo brought together producers and suppliers in areas of clothing, art and craft, beverages, cleaning chemicals, fresh produce and upholstery.

Mr Ebineng said this resonated well with his ministry’s mandate of value chain development. The ministry was also a product of the Reset Agenda and their primary occupation was to help build businesses and an entrepreneurial ecosystem that would enable businesses to emerge, grow and export.

He said he was pleased to witness the locally made products being exhibited saying that symbolized the dedication and creativity displayed by local suppliers who serve as the backbone of the economy and the driving force behind the community’s prosperity.

“In today’s rapidly changing world, entrepreneurship has become more than just a career choice, it is a way of life and it is about daring to dream, taking risks and turning those dreams into reality through hard work and determination,” he added.

Mr Ebineng said his ministry recognized the vital role that local producers and suppliers played in driving economic growth and fostering community resilience.

By supporting the businesses, he said, they would not only stimulate economic activity but contribute to the preservation of the cultural heritage and the sustainability of the environment.

He acknowledged that individuals and companies participated at the expo underscored the vibrancy and diversity of the local business ecosystem citing that one of the defining characteristics of entrepreneurship was the ability to adapt and thrive in any environment.

However, he urged participants to be part of the export led Botswana economy, adding that they should take up the value chain opportunities that were presented at the expo.

“Leave here with a business idea, work on it and you can even go ahead and build cooperatives to increase production using technology to improve efficiency and productivity,” he said.

OWS Managing Director, Mr Joe Matome, said the expo was aligned to the national call of action -- mind-set change.  He said his company was committed to empower and support local businesses by procuring products hence they decided to bring them under one roof to have a taste of what they could offer them.

At OWS, they had a huge market as they operated many camps in the Okavango Delta hence they wanted to invest more in sourcing goods and services locally to empower businesses.

He said the company had since paid more than P1.3 billion in sourcing goods and services locally and appealed to businesses which did not show up to come forth and forge connections with the company.

“Through this expo we are looking at ways to partner with local suppliers and other stakeholders in an effort towards promoting value chain development in the tourism industry,” he added.

OWS board chairman, Mr Kabelo Binns, concurred that through the event, they were adjusting to the government mind-set change initiative. 

The company was ready and open for business as they intended to empower and support local businesses by procuring products.

The event, he said, was a long term commitment to inspire a movement towards more citizen participation in the procurement side of the industry.  

“We at Wilderness are certainly committed and ambitious to make a meaningful impact. The opportunities are phenomenal, and it is upon us all to help shape them into being. We intend to host the expo annually and we believe that it will grow bigger and better,” he added.

Mr Binns said they had already been working to enhance their local procurement. Ends