18 Sep 2024

 A fashion programme named Creation Africa Botswana was launched at The National Museum and Art Gallery recently. 

The platform, with the objective to empower local entrepreneurs in the fashion and textile industry, positioning the sector as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation, was launched by the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Karabo Gare. 

Gare observed that the programme was a unique initiative designed to empower and unlock fashion synergies of Botswana’s fashion visionaries. 

The programme, to be implemented by a local entrepreneurship support organisation, Market Players, will also document the rich fashion and cultural history of Botswana. 

Gare pointed out that the platform is coordinated by the National Arts Council of Botswana, Alliance Franchise Gaborone with the support of the French Embassy in Botswana and funded by the French government. 

The programme activations will take place in various areas including Francistown, Kasane, Maun, Ghanzi, Palapye, Kanye and Gaborone. 

In addition,  Minister Gare noted the programme would ‘promote economic growth through fashion entrepreneurs, as the entrepreneurs will have access to a range of benefits, including business skills training, access to markets, international mobility, and funding opportunities’. He said the programme would strengthen fashion entrepreneurships, thus, strengthening the fashion industry in Botswana, promoting worldwide cooperation and fostering sustainable practices within the sector. 

“The incubation programme would provide participants with tools, resources, and mentorship they need to navigate this dynamic landscape,” Gare noted, stressing that, the platform would offer the fundamentals of business to unleash creative potential, nurture passion and transform dreams into reality. 

He encouraged the Botswana fashion industry to seize the opportunity to tell its story and demonstrate its ability as it embarked on a path that could change not only lives, but also the industry itself. 

Ambassador of France to Botswana, Olivier Brochenin, described the initiative as a milestone in the collaboration between the two countries. 

He said Creation Africa Botswana was a response to the commitment of the French Minister for International Partnerships, Chrysoula Zacharopoulou. 

She emphasised building  lasting partnership around a number of rapidly-implementable projects in the areas of agriculture, cultural and creative industries, and digitalisation , identified by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, as key for Botswana’s economic diversification and development. 

This commitment was formalised during Zacharopoulou’s visit to Botswana in April when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape and Ms Zacharopoulou signed the ‘Gaborone Declaration’. 

Brochenin also confirmed that, when the two heads of states met in Paris on June 20, the French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated political commitment to President Masisi.

 “One of the goals of Creation Africa Botswana is to support the commercialisation and export of fashion products. 

Indeed fashion is a young and vibrant industry in Botswana. In order to achieve these goals, the selected designers will benefit from mentorship, training, funding, international mobility and network,” he added. 

The Director of Alliance Franchise, Angelique Saverino, said the large turn out of stakeholders at the event reflected not only the strength of the partnerships, cooperation between the France and Botswana, but also highlighted the collective commitment to support local talent. 

She concurred with Gare that Market Players and The Arts Council of Botswana had each played a crucial role in highlighting the vision of Creation Africa Botswana and bringing it to life. 

She noted that Alliance Franchise had been a key supporter of Botswana for more than 40 years now. Ends