Pula Investment Conference takes shape
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday August 4, 2025 06:00
In the lead-up to the event, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) has launched a call for projects, encouraging locals to submit their business ideas and investment pitches.
On Tuesday, BITC Executive Director, Export Development and Promotion, Temo Ntapu, said the submitted proposals will undergo a rigorous evaluation process, and those deemed bankable will proceed to the next stage where they will have an opportunity to present in the Deal Room, a high-level investment pitching session designed to connect promising ventures with potential investors.
“The deal room presentations will be happening during the Global Expo and we are hopeful the selected projects will be able to sell their ideas to the potential investors. The deal room presentations will only be done by pre-selected market ready projects,” he said.
During the three-day conference there will be other rooms where investors can still interact with those that did not make it into the deal room. Some of the projects that failed to proceed in to the deal rooms will be taken to economic labs where their potential will still be harnessed and where possible, be implemented.
“We have realised that there is a lot happening,” Ntapu said. “People are holding big chunks of land but lack capital to develop those lands. “We encourage financiers to be present and listen because together we can go far.”
The agency confirmed that renowned Nigerian economist, banker and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, will be amongst the investors who will grace the conference.
“We are still in talks with some investors who are promising to attend the conference,” Ntapu told BusinessWeek. “Priority sectors at the conference include energy security, agro-processing, mining beneficiation, and manufacturing.”
The conference, which brings together investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, will serve as a platform to showcase viable projects across key sectors of the economy. By facilitating access to finance, the initiative aims to help local businesses scale up operations and contribute meaningfully to Botswana’s development goals.
Running concurrently with Global Expo Botswana, the country’s premier international trade and investment event, the Pula Investment Conference will benefit from a global audience and increased investor visibility. It forms part of broader efforts to position Botswana as a competitive and investor-friendly destination.
This year the expo will run from October 8 to the 11 under the theme ‘Unlocking Botswana’s potential: Partnerships for Sustainable Growth’. According to BITC, which is hosting the expo, this year’s event will serve as a platform for participants to explore profitable business and joint venture opportunities.
The expo will feature exhibitions, workshops, business matchmaking alongside the Pula Investment Conference. Both local and international investors and delegates are encouraged to exhibit at the expo or even host their own workshops.