03 Feb 2014

BOCCIM chief executive officer, Ms Maria Machailo-Ellis says her organisation is advocating for availability of land to start viable business projects in Selebi Phikwe.

Speaking during SPEDU business forum on January 31, she said the aim was to make environment conducive for business. Ms Machailo-Ellis said BOCCIM was working with government to reduce red tape and bottle necks that caused business to fail or pick up slowly.

For his part, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre executive director (Special Economic Zones), Mr Lonely Mugara echoed similar sentiments, adding that his organisation had divided the country into special economic zones.

He said his organisation’s mandate was to help the economic zones realise their business potential. Also, he said ,his organisation would help market the economic zones and products from the same places.

He said Selebi Phikwe region was one of the special economic zones his organisation would focus on to improve the business sector and market the region to help diversify the economic base of the region.

The forum was attended by the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi, representatives from SPEDU, BOCCIM, BCL mine, dikgosi, councillors, senior government officials and various business organisations. ENDS