21 Apr 2026

If preliminary talks are anything to go by, Angola will start enjoying more of Botswana prime beef while Batswana will supplement their diet with fish from Angola.

This follows discussions between the two governments to strengthen collaboration and explore possibilities of trade and investment within critical economic sectors particularly beef production, fish and meat processing.

Besides their geographical ties, Botswana and Angola share a mutual need to revitalise trade exchanges with each other as a first step in creating opportunity bases for small, medium and large scale business investments. 

Through the recent establishment of the Angola-Botswana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABCCI) Ad-hoc Committee, businesses from both countries will have a permanent, comprehensive platform that will facilitate ease of doing business between the two countries.

According to the Ambassador of Angola to Botswana, Mr Sandro De Oliveira the establishment of the ABCCI follows a directive from a meeting of presidents of the two nations earlier this year and was a strategic alliance of nations that had a mutual interest in collaborating to grow their economies.

“From the meeting, there were specific directives for both governments to immediately implement tangible actionables that will open opportunities for businesses in both countries to start directly trading with each other,” he said.

Ambassador De Oliveira was speaking at a breakfast meeting hosted for all stakeholders in the value chain including a business delegation from Angola.

The Committee’s mandate promises to be a first step in eliminating barriers for businesses to thrive as well as create trade bases to support the growth of SMEs thereby creating much needed employment in the process. This goal will be facilitated by the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA), which promises to be a one-stop-shop to support business that seeks to trade in their gazetted SEZs.

“We will provide a competitive, investor-friendly environment. Angolan consumers and businesses can immediately import products such as agro-processed foods such as maize-meal and flour, construction materials, pharmaceuticals and consumer household goods from Batswana businesses.” says Tapiwa Masie, Acting Chief Executive Officer of SEZA.

Ministry of International Relations deputy permanent secretary, Mr Clifford Maribe described the session as not just as a culinary convention of stakeholders but a strategic platform to unlock investment flows and advance a shared agenda of growth and prosperity.

“We meet here at a pivotal moment when Botswana government, through the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, is embarking on an ambitious plan aimed at restructuring the economy through diversified and export-led growth.” he said.  ENDS