30 Jan 2025

Statistics Botswana and Business Botswana on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), geared at strengthening partnership between the two entities, thereby helping drive economic growth, improve business statistics and enhance data-driven decision making. 

Speaking at the ceremony, acting Statistician General, Dr Lucky Mokgatlhe said the partnership signified a pivotal step towards fostering a data-driven culture in Botswana’s socio-economic landscape.

He said the recent change in government brought a renewed focus on accountability, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making. 

“These principles align closely with the fundamental principles of official statistics such as relevance, accuracy and reliability, timeliness, accessibility, comparability and transparency. 

“They also align with the objectives of this MoU, which seeks to facilitate the work between the two organisations,” he said. 

He said by working together, the two entities would not only advance Botswana’s development objectives, but also contribute to the global agenda for sustainable and inclusive growth. 

Dr Mokgatlhe said the MoU also built towards Statistics Botswana’s core mandate of developing and maintaining a coordinated national statistical system, and the Botswana Strategy for the Development of Statistics. 

He said accurate data was the backbone of effective policy formulation, business strategies, and sustainable national development.

He said Business Botswana had long been a key player in driving economic growth and representing the private sector, which he said was indispensable in the journey towards sustainable development. 

“The private sector’s role in job creation, innovation, and investment cannot be overstated, and the insights derived from robust statistical data will undoubtedly enhance its contributions to the economy,” he said. 

Dr Mokgatlhe stated that the MoU laid the groundwork for a dynamic partnership for strengthening data-sharing mechanisms, promoting research and innovation, and harmonising efforts to address critical challenges such as unemployment, economic diversification, and global competitiveness. 

He said leveraging on combined expertise would empower businesses with tools needed to make informed decisions, while also ensuring that national policies were grounded in solid evidence. 

Chief Executive Officer for Business Botswana, Mr Norman Moleele said the partnership signaled the beginning of a strengthened alliance that would enable the two entities to work together in driving economic development. 

He concurred that data was key to a thriving economy as it informed policies, drove decisions and unlocked new opportunities for businesses. 

“This is precisely why our collaboration is so important because it will facilitate the production of accurate, reliable, and up-to-date business statistics that are important for understanding the needs of the private sector and the broader economic landscape,” he said. 

Mr Moleele said the MoU would allow the two to jointly undertake critical processes along the statistical value chain from data collection, processing, and analysis to the dissemination and archiving, which he said was vital for businesses, policymakers and stakeholders across the economy. 

Mr Moleele said as the leading voice of over 2 500 businesses, Business Botswana was fully committed to promoting an environment where businesses could thrive, and said that such an agreement was vital as it would avail comprehensive and actionable data. 

Mr Moleele expressed confidence that the partnership would support efforts to address trade barriers, regulatory challenges and other economic impediments.

He said by aligning efforts, the two organs would create a thriving environment for innovation, job creation, and the broader economy. ENDS