BETP Lab Linchpin for new Botswana
11 Aug 2025
President Advocate Duma Boko says the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) lab will be a linchpin for new Botswana.
Speaking at the launch in Gaborone on August 11, President Boko said BETP was a sign of government’s urgency to implement structural reforms aimed to protect existing jobs, stimulate new industries and build economic resilience amid shifting global markets and declining diamond revenues.
“Regarding diamonds, we have now painfully realised that this model is nearing its end and this poses a national threat that compels us to act decisively and correct course,” he warned.
He revealed that at a strategic cabinet workshop, a general consensus was reached on Botswana’s development vision.
The vision, he said aimed for a high-income, digitally enabled, export-driven, people-centric and economically diversified Botswana.
“This strategy will be guided by expert-led, implementation-focused processes, with clear actions and deliverables assigned to government ministries, parastatals, and state-owned enterprises,” President Boko explained.
The BETP labs are designed as high-impact execution units bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to identify opportunities and remove bureaucratic barriers.
Priority sectors targeted for investment and reform include agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, financial services, digitalisation, tourism and mining.
For his part, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe highlighted the enthusiastic response to the BETP initiative, revealing that over 3 500 project ideas had been submitted so far.
“The call for ideas has sparked an outpouring of creativity and ambition from Batswana and international partners alike,” said Mr Gaolathe.
Mr Ndaba, who is also Minister of Finance, announced an extension of the call for submissions until August 17, noting that the initiative began on July 1 with a diagnostic phase inviting bold and transformative projects from the public.
The BETP lab is positioned as a key platform to harness innovative solutions aimed at driving Botswana’s long-term economic transformation. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Taboka Ngwako
Location : Gaborone
Event : BETP lab launch
Date : 11 Aug 2025
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