10 Mar 2014

Botswana is ranked first in Africa and 25th in the world in Fraser Institutes Policy Perception Index (PPI), with and overall score of 74.2.

A news release from BGCIS stated that the index was based on an annual global survey of 112 jurisdictions worldwide including sub-national jurisdictions in Canada, Australia, the United States and Argentina.

“Among diamond destinations, Botswana was ranked number one in the world followed by Ontario (73.1) and Namibia (68.3),” the release said.

It said since 1997, the Fraser Institute had conducted an annual survey of mining and exploration companies to assess how mineral endowments and public policy factors such as taxation and regulation affect exploration investment.

Factors examined include policy attractiveness, government uncertainty, environmental regulations, legal system, taxation, infrastructure, trade barriers, labour, geological databases and security.

The survey results represented the opinions of executives and exploration managers in mining and mining consulting companies operating around the world.

The release further said overall, mining firms rated the top jurisdictions as Sweden (95.2), Finland (94.3), Alberta Canada (93.4), Ireland (93.4), Wyoming USA (92.6).

Below Botswana and Namibia in the region were Zambia (48.0), Tanzania (43.0), South africa (39.8), Mozambique (29.9), DRC (23.4) Malawi (15.6), Zimbabwe (14.6) and Angola (10.7). ENDS