35 minute read
Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC)
SPOTLIGHT ON INDUSTRY IN BOTSWANA
An overview of Botswana’s industries and the state of the financial sector as it pursues continued economic growth
Writer: Ed Budds | Project Manager: Krisha Canlas
Botswana as a nation remains one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, with around 12 percent of its people living in the capital and largest city, Gaborone. Formerly one of the world’s poorest countries, Botswana has been busy transforming itself into an upper-middle-income nation, with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
With an ambitious government mandate encompassing everything from investment promotion and attraction, export promotion and development, and management of the national
brand, Botswana is making commendable progress towards achievement of these aspirations.
Botswana has sustained one of the world’s longest economic booms, with the nation’s economic growth since the late 1960s staying on par with some of Asia’s largest economies. The government has consistently maintained budget surpluses and has accrued extensive foreign-exchange reserves. This impressive economic record in comparison to some of its neighbours, has been steadily built on a foundation of diamond mining, prudent fiscal policies, and a cautious foreign policy. Botswana’s economy is heavily dependent on diamond mining, which contributes to around 50 percent of the government’s revenue. It is also rated as the least corrupt country in Africa according to the Corruption Perceptions Index by international corruption watchdog, Transparency International.
Putting the ‘Fab’ in Fabric
The words of Mukesh Josh, Founder and Managing Director of Nortex, reflect the company’s growth into the largest terry towel manufacturing company in Southern Africa. Backed by a team of creative and dedicated staff, the company continues to grow from strength to strength, and has recently gone through a major asset expansion that has vastly increased its production capacity. Expanding into the homeware market, Nortex is now in the position to dominate the towel manufacturing sector within Southern Africa, as well as looking to expand its horizons in Europe and North America. Nortex was established in 1990 and produces topquality terry towels, micro cotton towels, knitted Snag Free® towels, and baby napkins. The company utilises modern, state-of-the-art machinery, which makes the manufacturing process smooth and efficient. Nortex’s design studio is equipped with the right expertise to create innovative, unique collections and colours, ensuring customers get the freshest and most fashionable towels in the industry. From various cotton fibres and yarns to a range of colours, Nortex has come a long way, emerging from accessories to a category that today is an important part of home furnishing. The company has expanded its range of contemporary designs, innovative constructions, and new fibres, all coming together to create the finest bath collections. One of Nortex’s core values is ‘customer first’, and so products are continuously introduced, upgraded and enhanced to meet consumer preferences. The Nortex Indulgence collection, amongst the most popular Nortex products, was designed in the studio with two things in mind: luxury and style. With an opulent weight of 630 gsm (grams per square metre), the Indulgence Towel has hollow fibre hygro-technology which means it only gets thicker and fluffier as its washed and tumble tried. Made from 100 percent African cotton, it has a chic ridge design at the edges, and comes in an array of stylish bright and natural colours to suit individual tastes and preferences. The Inspire collection, meanwhile, is the ultimate luxury micro cotton towel. Specially cultivated long fibres are woven into extraordinarily long loops that give these towels a special spa-like feel. Not only are the Inspire towels about looking and feeling good, but they also receive top marks when it comes to absorption, making them a solid long-term investment. For a modern look and feel fitting of today’s urban mindset, look no further than Nortex’s Urban Stitch collection. From fresh pastels to earthy tones, Urban Stitch’s thick, soft pile and high thread count make this collection the go-to towel to stock in a contemporary bathroom. With an all-natural feel, high-quality materials, and Nortex’s signature soft finish, Urban Stitch is the ultimate modern towel.
Nortex’s White Diamond towels are an eco-friendly alternative, yet still retain the vital absorbance and quick-drying qualities. They have a light yet super soft feel, with a multitude of bright colours available. Specially knitted for the hospitality industry is Nortex’s Snag Free® collection. Manufactured with a unique warp knit construction to prevent pulling or snagging, these towels are more durable than their woven counterparts, and withstand more washes than normal towels. They are the preferred choice of the hospitality industry thanks to their durability, high absorbency, and soft touch. Remaining product collections offered by Nortex include Raphael Stripe towels, an effortless update to the home that complements an array of interior styles from contemporary to retro. Nortex’s ultra-absorbent and attention-grabbing beach towels allow countless days of water-filled fun to be enjoyed in style and comfort, whilst the company’s zipped and plain gym towels keep valuables safe during the intense heat of a workout. Delivering quality on time, every time, Nortex prides itself on being the industry standard when it comes to customer service and care, and has achieved 98 percent on-time deliveries. Nortex supplies all leading linen wholesalers and retailers nationwide in Africa, and whilst the company does not sell to individuals, it encourages people to contact the relevant agent in their area to guide them on where they can purchase their Nortex towels.
Looking for soft, plush, elegant, simple luxury towels? A Nortex towel is what you need.
9807, Phase 4 Industrial, Francistown, Botswana T +267 2414773
www.nortex.co.za
Experience Fine Luxury
Textiles are everywhere. From carpets, rugs and furniture to clothing and towels, textiles are responsible for so many items that we use on a daily basis shape, most of which we enjoy without giving them a second thought. Established in 2019 as the second division of Nortex, Joshtex is a new terry towel manufacturing facility based in Ladysmith, South Africa, developed to specialise in Jacquard designs and Yarn Dyed products. Just as Nortex is known for its Snag Free knitted towel, manufactured by only five factories in the entire world, Joshtex should be known for its Jacquard/Textured and Yarn Dyed towels. With an investment of over $10 million, Joshtex’s state-of-theart manufacturing facility produces luxury terry towels and kitchen towels using 100 percent African Ring Spun Cotton. In the all-encompassing realm of textiles, Joshtex is striving to become the world’s largest terry towel and kitchen towel manufacturer. A multi-faceted organisation, the mission of Joshtex is to provide world-class terry towels of outstanding quality, that give customers a competitive advantage through superior products. The company produces and exports exclusive towels for major retailers and brands across the world, with the Southern African region being its dominant market. The name Mukesh Josh is known worldwide for quality, price and on-time delivery, standards he set as the foundation for Nortex Botswana in 1990. He has taken a huge leap forward with his vision and expanded into Southern Africa, bringing with him technical skills as well as his dynamic drive and experience, proving that he is still the best in the field. Starting up the factory and personally overlooking and retraining every process, he has placed his Gold Standard name on it by calling it “Joshtex”. He has proven to be a businessman of high integrity and respect for his customer, and has imparted this character to those around him. As the father of the business, he has won the hearts
of the employees in a nation where hope was failing, and transformed people into motivated and successful professionals. This attitude of quality is reflected in the products that we create, with the highest standards of quality being monitored and implemented from raw material to finished goods.
ABSORBENT, SOFT AND DURABLE
Terry towels, available in a wide range of colours and weights, are fabrics woven with many protruding loops of thread, which means they can absorb large amounts of water. Easily the most common type of terry cloth on the market, terry towels are used around the world in our bathrooms as bath towels and wash cloths due to how absorbent and durable it is. Terry cloth is unique in the way it is manufactured, woven using two warp beams – the ground warp which creates the base fabric, and the pile warp designed so the uncut loop piles stand up on the base fabric. The pile warp is what increases the surface area and maximises the absorbance of terry cloths and makes them soft to the touch. Impressively, terry cloths can absorb in excess of 20 times its weight. Looped piles can be found at a variety of heights and densities depending on the preferred composition, whether it be a softer, luxurious touch, or a less thick, more breathable feel. Put simply, the higher the piles and the denser the loops, the more absorbent the fabric. Made entirely from thick and absorbent African Ring Spun Cotton, Joshtex’s soft towels are a delight to wrap up in after a shower or a long soak in the bathtub. The company uses sustainable cotton, sourced from Africa, which when compared to other cottons lasts much longer and retains its softness for the lifetime of the product. Alternatively, lounge by the poolside or beach in style with Joshtex’s selection of beach towels, which range from plain and sophisticated to vibrant and oversized. Joshtex offers state-of-the-art manufacturing in terms of its designs, weaves, and the excellent texture and feel of its products, underpinned by the values of customer satisfaction and delight, superior quality and performance, concern for the environment and the community, and a safe workplace that promotes healthy work habits. Finished with a ribbed border, Joshtex’s Luxury Collection of towels have unmatched lustre and softness, whilst the company’s Opulence Collection is an essential for every bathroom. Upgrade your everyday bath routine with Joshtex’s soft and sophisticated texture-rich towels, whose sculpted floral pattern in warm, sun-faded, luxury hue colours provide plenty of textural interest. Complemented by the Florida, Royal Touch and Kitchen Collections, Joshtex’s terry towels allow people to experience fine luxury. You can say a lot about towels, but the true test is in the way it feels. Go ahead, feel it!
91 Helpmekaar Road, Ladysmith, 3370, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
T +27 (036) 631 0526
www.joshtex.co.za
Asuquo Nkposong
Quasquicentennial. Standard Chartered Bank is celebrating 125 years in Botswana in 2022. We opened for business in Botswana in 1897 making us Botswana’s first financial institution. In 1956, we opened our first branch in Lobatse (more to come on this location) and were one of the first companies to list on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 1989.
As we celebrate this significant milestone, we reflect on the challenges, learnings, and successes that we have achieved while navigating the ever evolving economic and business landscape.
Underlying our longevity has been our unique position as the front runner for financial innovation – the bank of firsts in Botswana leveraging on our international network and local expertise to the appreciation of our diverse clients and stakeholders.
Let me introduce the next turn in our journey: Leading Chapter 3 – Accelerating Zero, Lifting Participation and Resetting Globalisation.
The world is being reset. We are living and working at an extraordinary moment in time and there has never been a more important time for us to accelerate change and innovation with an eye to the future. Doing more of the same, but a bit better, won’t keep us in the game.
Accelerating Zero:
Putting the world on a sustainable path to net zero by 2050.
Across our global network, we have set ambitious targets to provide up to $300bn for green and transition finance by Jan 2023, achieve net zero from our operations by 2025 and source all energy from renewable sources by 2025.
In June 2021, we proudly launched a first-of-its-kind, wholly solarpowered Express Banking Centre (EBC) in Lobatse, Botswana. The hybrid distribution channel has been built from recycled materials, reducing our carbon footprint in construction and operation. In March 2022, we converted our flagship Gaborone branch in the Main mall to a fully solar powered operation achieving approximately 11 metric tons of CO2 savings (17,881km car emission and 423 tree processing equivalent) in its first 91 days.
Lifting Participation:
Build partnerships to expand the reach and scale of financial services for SMEs and particularly, women owned businesses.
Standard Chartered Bank is committed to support the Governments Citizen Economic Empowerment Program (CEEP) drive. This program is aimed at empowering wholly owned citizen companies of Botswana where SMME’s take the initiative to generate employment.
Our Vendor Prepay (VPP) supplier financing solution is a fully digital integrated solution to support this program. It affords both large corporates and suppliers the opportunity to monetize their trade supplies. It provides multi-market financing, better pricing to both local and foreign suppliers, reduced transactions costs, access to FX at favourable rates, improves efficiency as it embeds digitisation and automation, eliminates time spent on supplier queries on payment status and improved data reporting to build long term loyalty.
Resetting Globalisation:
Provide access to the best and most innovative solutions to both the private and public sectors.
In 2019, Standard Chartered Bank Botswana launched the first of its kind fully digital bank in Botswana effectively achieving 100% banking penetration across Botswana without the need for a physical presence. We provide an unrivalled suite of over 70 services on the platform, from end-to-end account opening to various onshore and offshore investment products. This has revolutionized the quality of banking services Batswana expect to receive.
Straight2Bank
In 2021, we enhanced our award winning online banking platform for our corporate clients, Straight2Bank NextGen.
The enhanced platform, developed alongside our clients, is equipped with a modernised, highly-intuitive user interface which promotes greater usability and enhanced user experience. There is an inbuilt intelligence which features greater contextual insights throughout the user transaction journey and provides moment-based priority tasks.
Some of the distinct features in Straight2Bank NextGen are: the depth of customisation which enables clients to personalise the application with biometrics, voice analytics and artificial intelligence, multi bank liquidity reporting and physical pooling of balances, multi-language optionality, integrated FX quotes and payments, investment and chatbox requests. Straight2Bank delivers relevant contextual guidance information and ondemand data and business insights ensuring our clients always stay up to date with their financial information.
Virtual Accounts
Virtual Accounts (VA) are designed for corporates with large buyer, supplier or subscriber base. This product allows our corporate clients to reconcile each counter-party’s transactions while maintaining only one physical account for the Corporate. VAs are not physical accounts; they function like “physical account numbers” for each of your clients.
The benefits of this product are: corporates can centralise funds in one physical account for better visibility and control, payer information is captured in the account statement and also available through various reports in Straight2Bank, accuracy of payer identification is assured every time a deposit is made using VA, Ease of reconciliation as client can assign a VA number to each payer or subscriber and VA’s can be linked to align to the varied ERP systems of our corporate clients.
Chinese Renminbi
The Bank launched the Renminbi (RMB) onshore banking services to the Batswana market for our local and international customers.
Standard Chartered has been named overall Best RMB Bank every year since 2018. In 2020, Standard Chartered was crowned the “Best Offshore RMB Bond House”. Our commitment to Botswana is to provide investment opportunities to Batswana. The Bank provides our clients with a unique opportunity to transact directly with suppliers and investors in China. This service is nonexclusive and available to our clients across all segments in the Bank. The service will be through our digital platforms and effectively reduces transaction costsr by making direct payments in RMB.
The Bank is offering six categories of services:
• Onshore RMB current accounts: this transactional cash account in
CNY which will enable transacting locally and for remittances to counter-parties in China in CNY. • This account is also digital and set up on our electronic platforms (Straigh2Bank and SC Mobile Botswana) to enable seamless processing of transactions. • RMB Trade: for payment of good and services, and trade financing. • Foreign exchange solutions – spot, forward and swap Options. Our platforms are integrated to our Financial Markets dealing board that enables end-to-end transaction banking / FX trades under this currency. • Corporate loans. • Investment solutions – Bond Connect and CIBM Direct, China is actually the 2nd largest bond market globally. • Treasury management.
The launch of this product has laid the foundation that will allow Botswana tap into the USD200bn Africa-China trade corridor. Botswana’s imports from China are estimated to have been rising with a growth rate averaging 29.3% over 2018-2020 versus 9% contraction for the previous three-year period. Data from Statistics Botswana shows strong growth in imports from China in 2021, up 183.4% year-on-year.
We have remained steadfast in our brand promise to be Here for good and resilient in our commitment to the economic growth and financial development of Botswana.
sc.com/bw
PATHOLOGY YOU CAN TRUST!
Botswana’s
healthcare in safe hands
Diagnofirm provides the highest quality medical laboratory services in Botswana to all healthcare professionals and their patients, employing a successful combination of well- trained staff and the most advanced technologies available. With an emphasis on professionalism, accuracy, and attention to detail, we have surpassed international quality standards and have received many awards for our efforts.
Since 2007, Diagnofirm has been offering histological services that fit the unique needs of our valuable clients. Our services include consultation and diagnostics on tissue samples. With over 40 Branches covering the entire country, we are the best choice for convenient, quality, and affordable clinical testing. With a wide range of tests, state of the art instrumentation, and technically proven methodologies, we strive to provide a fully comprehensive service in clinical testing.
In terms of our collective vision and mission, DML strives to be a regional leader in the field of Pathology, offering total solutions to healthcare organisations and medical health care companies ensuring delivery of high quality, unsurpassed clinical diagnostic service and integrity.
We have a clear and precise list of objectives which we ensure are met across all operations within the company. Firstly, we aim to provide quality pathology services to our clients at a reasonable cost. We ensure that these services are also provided online, meeting international standards, while also allowing improved access. We aim to remain highly competitive in all the services that we provide, and to provide excellence in patient care by being at the forefront with highly skilled personnel, continued education and the latest technology in the field of medical laboratory medicine.
We are aiming to train the next generation of medical laboratory scientists and technicians by providing the highest quality of in-house training to students, including guidance on creating outstanding and appropriate ethical behavior. We are also maintaining our promise to uphold community development, with a sound corporate social investment scheme.
Our customer care assistants show compassion towards our clients and their families and display utmost respect for the health professionals that need our assistance. Their professionalism shows in every aspect of their duties, from answering the phone to attending to patients, to storage and retrieval of data. At Diagnofirm, attending to our clients quickly and thoroughly is our topmost priority, and this aligns with our core values.
As an organisation we have a carefully thought-out list of imperative core values which we adhere to in every project, process and new venture going forward. These values allow us to achieve excellent customer satisfaction, whilst also reaching congruence with national goals. We believe in aligning our goal settings along pillars and ethos of Botswana‘s vision. We have an immense dedication to these crucial strategies, and by not compromising any of our core values and always aiming to achieve the best possible customer satisfaction, we ensure that we have strong working relationships with partners, customers and employees alike.
Other key core values are as follows:
• Inclusiveness: by using the input from our staff and clients in our quest to provide quality services. • Competitiveness: by recognising that in medicine the landscape is forever changing, we constantly adapt to and recognise the ever-fluctuating customer needs and requirements. • Diversity and personalised customer care: by recognising that each customer is a unique individual and customising care to satisfy their need and requirements. • Collaboration: through the programmes we carry out in social activities within the community, with training institutions and in the corporate world, as well as in our work practices.
• Excellence: through the recognition of Quality in all our services and methodologies. • Innovation: by keeping abreast with the latest technologies in medical laboratory science. • Social Responsibility: by putting the needs of Botswana and its people first by providing the latest technology at affordable prices.
Diagnofirm is Botswana’s first ISO 15189:2012 accredited medical laboratory, which brings key advantages to clients dealing with the company. Choosing an accredited laboratory provides peace of mind, as well as an assurance of a job well done, in an efficient and professional manner. Other benefits to the client include the knowledge that results are always traceable to international standards, as well as receiving the insurance that tests have been carried out by competent staff on well-maintained, regularly calibrated equipment. Clients can be certain that results are as reliable as possible when dealing with Diagnofirm. Additional benefits include the fact that in the event of a dispute of any variety, the results will carry far more weight than those from a non-accredited laboratory, strengthening the clients’ position in search of resolution to their dispute.
Diagnofirm Medical Laboratories offers exhaustive pathology tests which include:
· Kidney Function Tests · Heart Disease Tests · Molecular Biology Tests · Drugs of Abuse Tests · Genetic Disease Tests · Autoimmunity Tests · Gastrointestinal Infectious Tests · Liver Function Tests · Diabetes Tests · Fat Metabolism Tests · Cancer Markers · Infectious Disease Tests · Urinary Tract Infectious Tests · Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Tests · Food Handlers Tests · Biopsies · Pap Smears · Allergy Tests · Fertility Tests · DNA Tests
CONTACT DETAILS:
Tel: 395 0007 | Email: lab@diagnofirm.co.bw LinkedIn: Diagnofirm Medical Laboratories Facebook: Diagnofirm Medical Laboratories
www.diagnofirm.co.bw
An Exclusive Interview with Crosscorn’s Chief Operating Officer, Cobus Campher
Crosscorn has attracted increasing visibility and attention in the agricultural sector in Botswana over the past five years. Can you tell us a little more about yourselves?
Crosscorn Proprietary Ltd was established in 2012 as a seed distributor in Botswana. During its first five years, the company built a reputation as a high-quality seed provider through sustained marketing, good customer relations and service. In a country where 80% of the population is engaged in agriculture, Crosscorn’s seed sales today accounts for approximately 40% of the market. It aims to capture 75% of the seed market by 2025. Crosscorn processes, bags and brands its own products to the highest market standards. The government plays a prominent role in Botswana’s agricultural sector, and its Integrated Support Program for Arable Agricultural Development (ISPAAD) accounts for 90% of Crosscorn’s sales. Efficiency, flexibility and dependability have been hallmarks of the company’s relations with government, especially over the difficult tender seasons of 2018-2019. Recognising the need for a trained agronomist with extensive agricultural experience, Crosscorn appointed me as Chief Operating Officer in 2017. I am fortunate to have as my Sales Director Tebogo Motingwa, a former Extension Officer with 7 years’ experience working for government. Our management team is young and passionate about agriculture, with a strong company ethos and a sustained emphasis on teamwork, technological improvements and training. In a word, we want to make a difference, and we are driven by the goal of helping Botswana to increase agricultural production significantly while assuring food sufficiency, both quantity and quality, for every table. We determined at the outset to project Crosscorn as an innovator in a market of importers and distributors. In particular, our strategy aimed to address the glaring need for locally produced seed, a key component in food security.
You mention innovation and locally produced seed, both so welcome in this post COVID period especially, when the agricultural sector needs to regroup and to make a fresh start. Can you be specific about what has been Crosscorn’s strategy, both in the past and going forward?
Starting in 2018, Crosscorn elected to craft a novel profile which would concentrate on exploiting the existing potential and resources of Botswana rather than in passively importing them. At the same time, it aligned key parts of its strategy on obvious priorities of government. This “micro-macro” approach has served us extremely well. We have deepened our market significantly, heightened our visibility and earned ourselves recognition for innovation and leadership in both public and private circles. We have the distinction of being Botswana’s first agribusiness company to produce its own seed for local consumption. Starting in 2018 and increasing steadily each year, maize seed production will reach 700MT by June 2022. Not only is the seed homegrown, but it is specially adapted to Botswana’s climate and soil conditions – and it comes in 7 different varieties, 90% of which are produced locally, including water efficient and protein enriched maize. From local soils to local farmers, Crosscorn now provides unmatched varieties and qualities of homegrown maize, sorghum, and cowpeas, all uniquely adapted to Botswana and reaching an estimated 30,000 farmers per season. A dozen products are distributed in our distinctive packaging across the country and more are in the offing: bitter sorghum, IT-18 Cowpeas, mung beans and fodder. We have unmatched market positioning in this regard, in both
quantity and quality of product. Our distinctive “micro” strategy concentrating on a unique product offering has an important “macro” corollary: burgeoning national self-sufficiency in food. Food security and import substitution are national priorities of the highest order in countering juvenile malnutrition and promoting food assistance. The Botswana Vulnerability Assessment Committee (BVAC) estimates that 38,000 people needed food assistance in 2019-2020, an 8.5% increase over the previous year. As a result, Crosscorn has developed a relationship of mutual trust and support from and with government, including ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture through the Director of Crop Production. Our home-grown maize strategy can be showcased nationally and wwith regional organizations such as Water Efficiency Maize for Africa (WEMA) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Crosscorn intends to capitalise on this relationship to partner with government in counselling reforms in the industry, with structural changes and stable price increases being paramount.
Does Crosscorn’s strategic outlook focus only on seed? Do you feel there are opportunities in other agricultural sectors with a view to both diversification and incremental revenues?
Crosscorn has now reached a stage in its development where it can continue to build on its core business while simultaneously considering select diversification into other sectors with high revenue potential to enhance shareholder value. Two in particular would fuel its evolution into a genuinely diversified agricultural concern. The most attractive one is the meat industry, the largest GDP component of Botswana’s agriculture and its second largest export earner. Thanks to government’s liberalisation of meat exports last year, Crosscorn will launch a historic private endeavour with an established abattoir in Botswana to supply meat to South Africa. Starting next month, we aim to supply approximately 100MT of meat per month and gradually increase that offering over time. Crosscorn feels strongly that its competitive sales model and product range can be transposed to neighbouring countries with comparable climatic and soil conditions. Namibia and South Africa in particular offer cross border opportunities starting this year. The Namibian market offers a limited opportunity for Crosscorn but one which is undeveloped and relatively non-competitive. A steady and growing stream of revenues can be envisaged through the application of more varied product better suited to local conditions as well as additions to existing ones. Among the former, “dry land” and WEMA varieties of water efficient maize, as well as cowpeas; among the latter, deficit White Maize (one third of national cereal consumption) and wheat. In the case of South Africa, Crosscorn can profit from Botswana’s immediate contiguity to North West Province. Both share similar climatic and soil characteristics. Crosscorn’s modern, integrated and delivery capacities based on products uniquely adapted to local conditions would have a certain appeal to emerging entrepreneurs and would attract regional government attention and support.
With a view to assessing Crosscorn’s future, would you discuss the New Crop Production Programme announced recently by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security and what you perceive would be its major opportunities for the company?
Its aim will be to increase and rationalize agricultural production, the seed industry in particular, by promoting needed changes in ISPAAD. ISPAAD is 100% reliant on government and supports 100,000 communal farmers who cannot do without it. We know it very well and our relations are close. But there is no question that its efficiency and operating capacity suffer from a lack of basic agronomical expertise and autonomy. A very important aspect of this for our business is price control. At current prices, the seed industry in Botswana is not profitable. The possibility of less price regulation from government would be a most welcome opportunity. Crosscorn would have greater latitude to set the price of its home-grown maize, thereby reaping for itself and its customers the advantages of local production. At the national level, adequate food supply and greater self-reliance would be natural corollaries. In this context, let me stress how strongly we feel that the private sector be involved in needed government changes in the industry. We can and should apply all our experience with ISPAAD to counsel changes. And we can back it up with our considerable agronomical and financial expertise. With Crosscorn’s history of leading reform in the industry, I am confident that our management team will be a strong partner for the New Crop Production Programme. We have a vision of a renewed Botswanan agriculture based on the most up to date agribusiness knowhow, techniques, and practices; a lighter, freer, and more efficient ISPAAD; enhanced food production for the Botswanan people, at more affordable prices; a rejuvenated meat export industry led by the private sector; an ever more prominent private sector leading the way for agriculture to finally assume its rightful role and attention.
e-mail: cobus@crosscorn.co.bw Facebook: CrossCorn (PTY)Ltd Tel: +267 396 0758/9
www.crosscorn.co.bw
Keletsositse Olebile, CEO of BITC talks us through ongoing challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the difficulty of global recession
Keletsositse Olebile
CEO of BITC
Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) is at the forefront of driving the transformation of Botswana into a globally recognised trade and investment destination.
Through its critical role within Botswana’s economy, BITC encourages domestic investment and expansion, promotes locally manufactured goods to regional and international markets, contributes towards improvement of the investment climate through policy advocacy, increases citizen participation in the economy and creates sustainable job opportunities.
Dedication to proactive and continuous collaboration with key stakeholders is at the forefront of BITC’s strategy. This includes partnership with Botswana Foreign Missions abroad, which has greatly expanded Botswana’s footprint in international markets and provides a platform through which businesses, beneficial partnerships and industry associations can be identified by providing a point of information exchange for both international and domestic investors.
We discuss the origins of the company since its creation in 2011, and how it has developed and progressed. Keletsositse Olebile, CEO of BITC talks
us through ongoing challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the impact of global recession on the organisation’s mandate He also details the company’s plans for development in the next five years. Olebile strongly believes Botswana has got great potential for establishing itself as the economic hub of Africa, which requires the nation to be innovative, agile and visionary.
Africa Outlook (AO): Can you talk us through the origins of the BITC, how it came about, and its initial vision?
Keletsositse Olebile, CEO (KO): BITC was established by an act of parliament in 2011/12 from a merger of two entities: Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA), and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). This organiation was created with the mandate to promote local and foreign investment, encouraging and facilitating export development and promoting the national brand.
AO: Since inception, how has BITC developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?
KO: BITC commenced operations in April 2012 and over the years, BITC has focused on growing both domestic and foreign direct investment through a targeted approach, by developing sector value propositions to sell investment opportunities within Botswana’s prioritised sectors. BITC has also developed a market strategy which informs our approach to investment promotion missions, for example choosing which markets, sectors and companies to target. BITC has also established presence in some of the world’s key markets; with offices in South Africa targeting the broader African region, India targeting Asia-Pacific region and UK targeting Europe. This is aimed at increasing our global footprint for creating awareness about Botswana, opportunities, and offerings.
Due to the advent of COVID-19, BITC prioritised domestic investment by developing a strategy to stimulate economic activity of local investors (start-ups and expansions). The key focus for the organisation entailed provision of market intelligence insights to empower Batswana and domestic investors with facts to make investment decisions. Partnerships with local authorities were established and enhanced to improve expansions of local companies through investment facilitation
Dubai Expo 2020
PHOTO: BOTSWANAINVESTMENTCONFERENCE.COM/#EXPO
services. BITC has managed to leverage the opportunity presented by the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020, to take the lead in ensuring positioning of the country on a global scale and promoting Botswana’s compelling value proposition.
Trade Promotion and Development
We aim to align with the government’s objective of transforming Botswana into an export led economy. BITC’s key initiatives entail development of an exporter’s development programme targeted at capacity building of local companies for export readiness. BITC also facilitates export market access through targeted export promotion missions and the management of the Botswana Trade Portal. BITC invests in global research and market intelligence to inform government priorities and guide our strategy direction and identification of investment and export opportunities.
Nation Branding awareness and management
To build a strong nation brand, BITC has intensified its efforts towards global awareness by adopting a wholistic view of Botswana through a threepart focus; live, work and invest in Botswana. Key initiatives include active global citizen participation where Batswana in the diaspora is engaged to promote awareness about Botswana from wherever they are. Nation Branding is also central to all investment promotion missions. The ongoing PUSHA BW campaign is another effort geared towards building a strong national image and promoting awareness and confidence in local products and services.
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Grand Reinsurance is a leading Pan-African reinsurance company. Incorporated in 2005, the organization was established to provide top-notch reinsurance solutions to short-term insurance companies across the SubSaharan African market. Grand Re Botswana provides tailor-made reinsurance and financial services to the entire Sub-Saharan insurance market
Your Reinsurer of First ChoiceSeed Co is the leading certified seed company authorized to market seed varieties developed by itself, government and other associated seed breeders in over fifteen (15)
Development. through teamwork and innovation, integrity, reliability, and passion. Established in 2019, Grand Re Botswana has been and will continue focusing on providing reinsurance services to the Southern African community with services including; • Short-term reinsurance • Risk Management • Actuarial Solutions
Seed Co is the leading certified seed company authorized to market seed varieties developed by itself, government and other associated seed breeders in over fifteen (15) African countries. We have maintained a strong market share among communal and commercial farmers from years of intensive investment in Research & Development. SEED CO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Seed Co is the leading certified seed company authorized to market seed varieties developed by itself, government and other associated seed breeders in over fifteen (15) African countries. We have maintained a strong market share among communal and commercial farmers from years of intensive investment in Research & Development.
For more information, please reach us:
T +267 311 778-9 | info@grandreinsurance.com | www.grandreinsurance.com www.seedcogroup.com
Business facilitation
In order to build a conducive investment environment, BITC has established the Botswana One Stop Services Centre to facilitate both new and existing investors to enable them to secure different government clearances and approvals with ease. The BITC Aftercare and Advocacy programme is aimed at increasing private sector input into government decision making on doing business in Botswana.
BITC’s key message is to establish Botswana as the most attractive destination for foreign direct investment, trade and tourism. Further, to elevate Botswana from a middle income to an upper middleincome country by the year 2036 in line with the National Vision 2036.
AO: What do you find most exciting about working in Botswana’s industrial sector?
KO: Firstly, BITC is key to driving Botswana’s economic development agenda, and an even more exciting prospect is BITC’s tripartite mandate of investment promotion, trade development, promotion and nation branding. Botswana has got great potential in establishing itself as the economic hub of Africa.
AO: On the flip side, what are its biggest challenges?
KO: In terms of challenges, BITC depends wholly on government subvention for implementation of its strategy, which continues to be reduced against increasing stakeholder expectations on the organisation to deliver on its mandate. The other challenges involve the ever- increasing investor needs, as well as global competition for FDI and export markets.
Additionally, we are challenged by an uncertain operating environment (pandemic outbreaks, global economic recessions, climate change, etc).
AO: How have the local industries navigated the COVID-19 pandemic?
KO: Government COVID-19 relief measures have included embracing e-commerce for selling and marketing their products and services. Implementation of the economic transformation and recovery plan are under way, and the private sector has also shifted their range of products in response to the pandemic.
AO: How do you see BITC developing over the next five years?
KO: Firstly, by becoming the APEX investment and trade promotion agency in Africa. Also: - Leading Botswana’s transformational journey into an export led and knowledge-based economy. - Forming collaborations and partnerships with strategic partners from the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020. - Decreasing reliance on government subversion. - Innovating in attracting investment and facilitating exports. - Maintaining our status as a high-performance institution.
AO: What trends are currently transforming the sector? How are you responding to them?
KO: Some recent trends that continue to transform the sector include the introduction of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, as well as general global economic recovery. Another influence on this transformation is the Government’s Reset Agenda.
Our response includes development of a strategy to leverage on the ongoing Expo Dubai 2020 (ROI will be tracked over a five-year period). We also plan to implement a midterm review of our strategy, in order to inform our strategic thrust, continued implementation of the Domestic Investment strategy and we are also currently developing the Botswana Nation Brand Strategy. This is along with continuous alignment with national priorities such as: ERTP, National Transformation Plan and National Reset Agenda.
Tel: +267 3633300 Email: enquiries@bitc.co.bw www.gobotswana.com
