Ishmael Radikoko told attendants recently at a UB business seminar that the Global Economic Monitor (GEM) survey shows that many factors that stimulate entrepreneurship in the country save for physical infrastructure have failed to encourage business in Botswana. The seminar was held under the theme, “Innovative business financing during tough economic times”. The GEM survey is the world’s largest global survey on entrepreneurship with an estimated 74% of the world’s population and 87% of world’s total Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Radikoko explained that even though GEM is pleased with the country’s infrastructure which has one of the fastest growth rate in Sub-Saharan Africa, the road network and telecommunications among other infrastructure in Botswana, is not found in some areas of the country which hinders business growth.
He said the GEM survey found out that other factors which help to stimulate entrepreneurship like entrepreneurial finance, Government policy, business education, entry regulations, commercial and legal infrastructure and culture and social norms need to be reviewed with a view to making them business and investor friendly.
