29 May 2025

As mineral revenues decline, Botswana now emphasises the importance of industrialisation driven by manufacturing of commodities, with a focus on enhancing quality services to boost competitiveness.  

This was highlighted during the handover of an accreditation certificate to the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Services (SADCAS). Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima stressed the critical need for diversification in the face of economic challenges. 

“While we are faced with insurmountable challenges, this is the most opportune time for us to accelerate our diversification drive," he said.

Minister Ntsima pointed the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which opened up a market of 1.3 billion consumers across Africa.

“The most critical opportunity the country could not miss is provided by AfCFTA, offering an overwhelming market for our goods,” he said.

He said that for manufacturing and export development to be effective, Botswana must produce globally competitive products, which hinged on improving product quality. 

“It is critical to appreciate that beyond diamonds, Botswana will have to survive on non-mineral commodities, and the success of this will depend largely on our national quality infrastructure,” he explained.

Consistency in product quality, Mr Ntsima said would give local products a competitive edge in international markets. 

“Gone are the days when quality was an option; today, quality is a strategic imperative,” he said.

He further highlighted that the country’s economic future relied on exports. While acknowledging concerns over high certification costs, he noted that BOBS operated various testing laboratories but still faced limitations in testing capabilities, often requiring outsourcing abroad, which results in high costs and delays. Ms Eve Gadzikwa, SADCAS, CEO, praised Botswana’s progress in accreditation. 

“The accreditation landscape in Botswana is growing rapidly, demonstrating the government’s commitment to strengthening quality infrastructure and reaping the benefits of accreditation,” she said.

As of March 31, Botswana had 37 accredited facilities, reflecting the country’s dedication to embracing accreditation standards. Ms Gadzikwa said accreditation was vital in supporting global trade, as it helped remove technical barriers and provided access to wider international markets, whilst also enhancing the quality and safety of imports.

Standards council chairperson, Dr Kereng Masupu said in its quest to develop into a high income status, the country faced a challenge of a small population, hence manufacturing must be accompanied by export development. Dr Masupu said industrialisation for the country meant that goods had to be of global competitiveness in order to enter the international market. The BOBS Certification Services Unit was accredited by SADCAS for Quality Management Systems Certification and was granted the unique accreditation number QMS-CERT 007. ENDS