This was said by Lobatse deputy district commissioner, Dr Malebogo Rathedi, during the inaugural Lobatse Economic Forum 2026 organised by Ba Bandleng Group (BBG). She said government had demonstrated confidence in Lobatse’s future by designating the town as Special Economic Zone for the meat and leather value chain which showed the town’s enormous potential to become a centre of industrialisation, value addition, exports and employment creation.

Dr Rathedi said it was imperative to build on the strategic advantage through investment attraction into leather processing, agro-processing, logistics, manufacturing and related industries.  She highlighted that there were emerging investments that continued to strengthen the town’s economic prospects which included dairy farming.

For instance, Milk Valley Farm recently received high-quality cattle from Brazil, an important milestone in strengthening Botswana’s dairy industry and expanding opportunities for employment, skills development and agricultural value chains.

Additionally, Dr Rathedi said Lobatse Clay Works, was another thriving long-established brick manufacturing enterprise which continued to demonstrate the importance of local manufacturing in supporting infrastructure development and industrial growth. The investments in such mega projects by government, she noted was a testament that Lobatse already had the foundation upon which a modern economy could be built.

“As we chart the future of Lobatse, we must also recognise the importance of implementing existing development frameworks. The Lobatse Regeneration Plan 2019-2036 provides a comprehensive roadmap for revitalising the town through infrastructure renewal, investment promotion, urban development, enterprise growth and improved quality of life. The implementation of this Plan will be critical in reawakening not only Lobatse itself but the greater Lobatse region as an important economic corridor within Botswana,” she said. The inaugural economic forum which was held under the theme: Re-imagining Lobatse: From Legacy Town to Regional Investment Hub, had brought together representatives from government, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, financial institutions, private sector, women and youth entrepreneurs, and development partners amongst others. 

Discussions centred on unlocking new investment opportunities, stimulation of enterprise development and contribution to Lobatse’s economic transformation in line with Government’s agenda of economic transformation and diversification. 

“For her part, BBG chairperson, Ms Loatile Seboni, stated that Lobatse played an important role in Botswana’s development trajectory adding that it had key national institutions, a thriving industrial base, and generations of entrepreneurs and workers who helped build Botswana’s economy. 

The forum, she said was a contribution towards building a resilient, competitive and prosperous Lobatse that could once again become a regional centre for trade, manufacturing, agro-processing and innovation.

Its main objective was to position Lobatse as an investment-ready town by showcasing strategic advantages, including the town’s proximity to South Africa, existing industrial infrastructure, institutional strength and access to regional trade corridors. 

It also sought to showcase viable investment opportunities across sectors that could stimulate economic growth, create employment and expand local enterprise.

Additionally, the forum sought to attract local and international investors by demonstrating that Lobatse is open for business and ready for partnerships, facilitate meaningful dialogue between government, the private sector and development partners on practical solutions that improve the ease of doing business and remove barriers to investment.

The focus was on sectors that have the potential to transform Lobatse such as agro-processing and food value chains, manufacturing and industrial revitalisation, cross-border trade and logistics, tourism and heritage development, digital economy and innovation, and small business and informal sector growth.

Kgosi Serogola Seretse of Lobatse underscored that the town occupied a unique place in Botswana’s history built on resilience, enterprise and service. “For generations it has been recognised as a centre of governance, justice, commerce, and industry. Many of the nation’s institutions have deep roots in the town,” he said. 

He thus urged potential investors to look beyond statistics and see the true potential of the town. ENDS