Government moves to streamline processes
08 Jun 2026
Government is in the process of streamlining processes and review pieces of legislation to improve ease of doing business, says Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe.
Speaking during a tour of the Flo-Tek manufacturing group at Lobatse on Thursday, the assistant minister highlighted that government continued to prioritise eliminating bureaucracies in order to facilitate ease of doing business, saying engagements with the business community would guide policy legislation and formulation.
“We need to do away with some of our laws and regulations as they frustrate entrepreneurs and those who aspire to do business in Botswana. The new government is concentrating on these areas to find solutions to these challenges,” he said.
He underscored the significance of creating a more vibrant business environment through business community consultations to map a way forward for better facilitation in line with improving efficiencies.
He said Botswana had comparative advantages, which businesses could leverage on adding that its strategic positioning in Southern Africa made it a land linked country with great potential to export to neighbouring countries.
Mr Mathoothe further highlighted employee welfare as well as critical skills transfer to locals to reinforce the workforce through upskilling.
In addition, he noted that it was important to remove any impediments to enable the businesses to thrive and expand so that they could employ more Batswana citizens.
He highlighted that business should cast their nets wider to explore opportunities locally and refrain from use of imported raw materials, which could otherwise be sourced locally.
He thus called for stronger collaboration with locals, adding that imports posed logistical delays, extra costs adding that wars in other countries caused negative impact on delivery logistics.
Government, he noted continued to demonstrate commitment to creating an enabling business environment, adding that in the last Parliament sitting the Economic Inclusion Act was amended and would be presented in the next Parliament session.
The Trade Act is currently undergoing review so that it could be aligned current,” he said.
For his part, Flo-Tek group chief executive officer Mr Vijaykumar Naik said the backbone of any thriving economy was building and sustaining resilient industries.
As such, he said they looked up to government to create a conducive business environment through facilitation.
Currently, he said Flo-Tek faced regulatory issues.
“We need to implement policies which allow for creation of more industries. So that we can create more employment opportunities and bring foreign direct investment,” he said.
Mr Naik said Flo-Tek, which manufactured and distributed PVC, CPVC, HDPE pipes and fittings, moulded plastic products, and irrigation systems amongst others was established in 1998 and grew to become an export-led industry where 80 per cent of its products were exported to Southern Africa with a footprint in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
The industry, he said employed 800 locals and 400 employees in other countries with production facilities located in Lobatse and Ramotswa.
Flo-Tek Group Human Resources Manager, Ms Seabe Ratsoma, appreciated government continued support toward business growth, localisation and the industry.
She said the company was committed to citizen empowerment through training and development of programmes for locals.
“As part of our localisation strategy, we have partnership with technical colleges and tertiary institutions in Botswana where we absorb local registered engineers. This is targeted at developing local talent and technical expertise. We have more than 50 engineers who are locals,” she said. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Calviniah Kgautlhe
Location : Lobatse
Event : Project tour
Date : 08 Jun 2026
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