03 Sep 2025

The outputs of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) economic laboratories are testament that the nation is poised to usher in a bold transformation that shifts it from dependency to dynamism and from stagnation to inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

Officiating during the BETP leadership lab syndication on September 3, President Advocate Duma Boko indicated that Batswana had since the launch of the economic labs in August, demonstrated the desire for renewal and rapid economic transformation.

“Over and over again, for the past weeks, I have heard and felt the passion, the energy, the yearning, and the commitment that have animated these Labs. This energy speaks not only to our efforts, but to the very heartbeat of our nation, confirming as it does, that we know in our hearts, that Batswana are ready and yearning for renewal and for rapid transformation,” said President Boko.

This energy, President Boko said also revealed that all role players from the private sector, social entrepreneurs, innovators and development partners, both at home and abroad were eager to join hands with government to build a Botswana to the global stage.

He indicated that it was pleasing to note that what began as an ambitious exercise had yielded a body of work that positioned Botswana for a new era of growth and prosperity.

“From over six thousand ideas submitted, we painfully retained only those with clear ownership, bankability and execution pathways. And this by no means means that those excluded are not needed. This discipline ensures we move quickly from ambition to delivery, responsibly and sustainably,” he said.

President Boko stated that in just four weeks, the financial services and digitalisation lab produced a comprehensive mapping of the national digital landscape and ecosystem, identifying reforms needed to build an inclusive and secure ecosystem and resulting in it being aligned on the baseline requirements.

He said bankable projects in agriculture had been identified that would move Botswana from import dependence to both import substitution and export orientation, ensuring food security as well as creating livelihoods.

President Boko stated that the same spirit had also infused every sector from energy, manufacturing, tourism, mining, education, healthcare and social protection citing that each sector had produced clear deliverables designed to open opportunity, enhance competitiveness and uplift the lives of Batswana.

He thus said government would modernise laws and regulations so that investment flew swiftly, and open opportunities.

“The next phase demands discipline in execution. Every minister has a solemn duty to ensure that all actions under their portfolio are executed within the agreed timeframes, without delay or excuse. Under our watch, no project will stall in bureaucracy. Each portfolio must deliver within its timeframe, because transformation is only as strong as its executors and delay is the enemy of transformation,” said President Boko .

Additionally, President Boko said the roadmaps crafted were not aspirations but were binding commitments between the government and the private sector, to be reported on and monitored with rigour. ENDS