21 Apr 2024

Government continues to work tirelessly to diversify the economy and reduce the import bill, including coming up with measures to tighten the flow of imported goods into Botswana.

As part of that effort, government aims to introduce a new statutory instrument that will restrict importation of 50kg bags of cement and only allow it in 1 000kg bags effective October 1.

This was revealed by minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela at the Metlhala ya Khumo outreach programme in Mochudi on Friday.

Minister Kgafela said restricting importation of cement would allow Batswana to participate in the value chain of cement and create employment opportunities.

“This then provides an opportunity to look for partners and participate in this wealth creating initiative,” he said. The minister indicated that some of the ministry’s initiatives geared towards diversifying the economy included government’s efforts to procure locally produced goods and services hence the introduction of statutory instruments to help industries grow.

Mr Kgafela urged businesses to reset and fully utilise trade policies and programmes, adding businesses that need to expand and venture into export markets should look at how the world was growing and observe the fastest growing industries and what had made them successful.

He indicated that ratification of African Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) gave Batswana an opportunity to trade with over one billion people across the African continent.

He said ministries of entrepreneurship and agriculture attended the Matlhala Ya Khumo outreach event to show their programmes that would greatly impact the informal sector and arable farmers to generate income and create employment opportunities for fellow Batswana.

In that regard, he said the Chema Chema Fund was designed to enable financial inclusion and promote growth for the informal SMMEs while Temo Letlotlo which was a productivity-output reward based agro-ecological programme aims to improve food security in Botswana.

“It is a transformational, multi-sectoral programme comprising of various ministries, State-Owned Enterprises and the private sector,” he said.

He thus urged Bakgatla to fully utilise the Metlhala Ya Khumo outreach event to make contacts, enrich themselves and use the opportunity to get information that would benefit them to achieve those businesses they longed for.

“I urge you Bakgatla not to be left behind when opportunities are presented to yourselves,” he said.

For his part, the Member of Parliament for Mochudi East and assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Mabuse Pule said initiatives that brought services closer to the people were important as they resulted in more uptake of government programmes by the community.

Mr Pule said the trade ministry was important in stimulating the country’s economy, hence Bakgatla should use the platform to get factual information that would benefit their businesses.

He also implored them to tap into opportunities that came along with banning of importation of 50kg bags of cement to use the opportunity as a wealth creation by re-packaging cement in different sizes.

Giving an overview of Metlhala ya Khumo outreach programme, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Ellen Richard-Madisa implored Bakgatla to use such forums to delve deeper into innovation policies, investment and industrialisation saying doing that would give policy makers some feedback.

Ms Richard-Madisa said the ministry prioritised such events to ensure that small businesses and communities in every region of the country had the tools and support they needed to innovate and grow, as well as create new jobs and further seize opportunities afforded by policies and programmes. ENDS