13 Apr 2026

The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) continues to serve as Botswana’s key development finance institution, providing affordable loans, guarantees, equity participation and business advisory services across manufacturing, property, services and agribusiness.

 This was said by Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe, when responding to a question in Parliament recently. 

Minister Mathoothe said as at the end of December 2025 or third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, CEDA had invested P696 million in 1 716 businesses, directly creating 3 109 new jobs while safeguarding another 1 569 existing positions. 

On the collections front, he said the Agency recovered P814 million and generated P207 million in revenue. “CEDA’s market-based prime lending rate stands at 10.76 per cent, with a generous three per cent subsidy for businesses in priority sectors such as manufacturing, agribusiness, mining, energy, construction, technology, creative industries and tourism,” he said.

 Mr Mathoothe said youth, women and persons with disabilities continued to benefit from flexible collateral requirements, while all clients received free monitoring, mentoring and training support. 

He added that the Agency was implementing its new five-year corporate strategy, Katlego ya Mogwebi, which focused on inclusive, sustainable growth for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMMEs), citing that key high-impact initiatives already underway included the Manufacturing Revival programme, under which a special P25 million budget, had been set aside for distressed manufacturers in the SPEDU region, coupled with restructuring, turnaround support, market linkages and skills training. 

“The Agency is also rolling out the 60/40 Funding Strategy, which directs 60 per cent of funds to high-value, high-impact projects while ring-fencing 40 per cent for development and inclusion-focused enterprises,” he said. 

To tackle liquidity and non-performing loans, he said the CEDA launched the Collection Ramp-Up project, known as Road to Recovery, in August 2025, which he indicated had already recovered an additional P226 million. 

He added that in November 2025, the Agency introduced the A-Di-Tsale Financial Suite, comprising five new cattle-focused products, which included Thuo-Khumo, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Fodder Production, Cattle Production Fund and Group Funding, to complement government’s livestock programme. 

“Further initiatives encompass the Youth Farm Model and Letsema Horticulture Revamp, which will establish agricultural clusters near urban centres and modernise the horticulture market to boost youth entrepreneurship, food security and market access,” he stated. 

The assistant minister further said the Poultry Financial Suite, developed in partnership with Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), would support the entire poultry value chain with special emphasis on rural communities, youth, women and persons with disabilities.

 “CEDA Textile is revitalising the sector by focusing on school uniform production to cut imports, create jobs, especially for women, and build local capacity,” he stated, adding that the A-Di-Tsale Small Stock Expansion Programme would introduce specialised financing for goat and sheep production. 

In the mining sector, he said the CEDA was collaborating with Morupule Coal Mine and other operations to fund citizen-owned transport and logistical services. 

Mr Mathoothe said additional cross-cutting efforts included full digitisation of systems, resource mobilisation to reduce reliance on government subventions, equity participation in high-performing projects and rollout of an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. 

Meanwhile, the assistant minister reaffirmed CEDA’s commitment to driving Botswana’s economic diversification through citizen entrepreneurship. MP for Mogoditshane West, Mr Galenawabo Lekau, had asked the minister to give a comprehensive overview of CEDA’s performance, including its current strategy. ENDS