13 Oct 2025

Botswana’s creative sector needs a radical shift in financing approaches and infrastructure development to realise its potential as a major economic driver, says Vice President and Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe.

Speaking at a recent panel discussion on Entrepreneurship and the Creative Industry during the 2025 Botswana Global Expo, Gaolathe criticised the current funding models that largely rely on debt capital. 

 “Traditionally, the type of funding that has been available has been primarily debt capital, loan capital funds that require property development. The system has been making this available to our artistes, but you cannot fund the creative sector through loan capital,” he said

He emphasised that the government was actively working toward establishing a new ecosystem that would provide more suitable funding sources, including a mix of equity capital and grants tailored to the unique needs of the creative industry.

Beyond financial reforms, Gaolathe highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure development to unleash the sector’s full potential.

“The digitalisation ecosystem is lagging in this country. It is not just about building technology infrastructure, but also physical infrastructure. We need to find ways to develop studios, music hubs, diamond cities, and museums that would attract global visitors,”he said.

He called for an overhaul of current regulatory frameworks, especially those related to archival rules and intellectual property (IP) rights, which he said fail to adequately remunerate and monetise creative IP. 

 He also highlighted the need to empower the sector with targeted education and knowledge. He advocated for an education system designed to cultivate a society of problem-solvers, managers and entrepreneurs to bring out the best in the nation’s creative talent.

“This must be complemented by mentorship programmes where emerging artists can learn and develop their mastery from successful industry professionals,” he said.

For his part, Minister of Sport and Arts, Mr Jacob Kelebeng echoed the Vice President’s sentiments that the creative sector was not a peripheral activity, but a central part of the national economic agenda.

Minister Kelebeng stated that government recognised the pivotal role entrepreneurs and creatives played in driving innovation, shaping identity and contributing to economic diversification. He commended the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) for its platform and continued work through the #PushaBW campaign to grow local industries.

Kelebeng said Botswana’s culture and creative industries already contributed about 3.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employed 6.2 per cent of the workforce.

“These figures are a foundation, not a ceiling. With the right policies, infrastructure and investment, this sector can deliver far greater returns in jobs, exports and national pride,” he said.

He also highlighted the need for strong collaboration between government, the private sector and industry associations.

Meanwhile, international speakers at the expo challenged the local industry to focus on creating content that resonated with a global audience. BET International senior vice president, Monde Twala, advised Botswana creatives to find their niche in pop culture as they sought investment.

“We follow the different trends and determine what we have to follow and it is about commercialising,” Twala said, hence urged the creatives to effectively package their genre to attract the global market. ENDS