24 Jul 2024

Mining has transformed the country from among the poorest and least developed states at independence in 1966 to an upper-middle income nation within 50 years.

Addressing delegates at the Trade Up North: Mining, manufacturing and construction two-day expo on Tuesday, the mayor of Francistown, Mr Godisang Radisigo said mining was the backbone of Botswana’s economic success.

He noted that the Trade Up North expo had become an annual feature in the city of Francistown and commended Soapbox Communications for their relentless efforts in mobilising stakeholders to take stock of the mining and manufacturing industries in order to foster industrialisation.

Furthermore, he said the expo presented opportunities to reflect on prospects that presented avenues for economic exploitation and the development of value chains and support industries. 

“I welcome you to this city of all things precious and I urge you to be alive to the fact that the future of our nation is in our hands. 

We need to individually and as a collective ensure that we fully explore and exploit all possible avenues presented by expos such as Trade Up North to devise strategic interventions capable of delivering the aspirations of Vision 2036,” he said.

Trade Up North managing director, Ms Vuyiswa Mojela said the expo provided a platform for exposure for the mining, manufacturing and construction sectors.

She also expressed satisfaction about the 45 local and international exhibitors. “We managed to attract international companies from Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa,” she said.

Ms Mojela noted that they started to host the Trade Up North expo in 2017, and that it was their fifth edition. 

Principal engineer at the Ministry of Minerals, Mr Barulaganye Ace said mining underpinned every aspect of modern life from the construction of buildings and infrastructure to the creation of electronics and renewable energy.

He noted that mines supplied raw materials for the production and manufacturing of products such as vehicles, construction, electronics, and energy. 

He also said many of the mined minerals were used for energy production and as raw material for chemical industries. Ends