Tony Elumelu to grace Global Expo
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday August 6, 2025 11:52
Tony Elumelu, an economist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has been confirmed as one of the headline investors attending the 2025 edition of the Expo, scheduled for October 8 to 11, 2025. The Nigerian investor is also popularly known for his Tony Elumelu Foundation. The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) CEO, Olebile Keletsositse, says this year’s event will serve as a platform for participants to explore bankable business prospects and form meaningful joint ventures. “We are still in talks with other globally recognised experts and are hopeful that a number of them will grace our event,” he stated.
The Expo, which is organised by the BITC, will run under the theme “Unlocking Botswana’s Potential: Partnership for Sustainable Growth.” The presence of Elumelu, along with other high-profile participants that are yet to be announced, is expected to elevate the profile of the Expo and position Botswana as a rising hub for sustainable economic growth and global investment. The flagship event has become a cornerstone of the country’s economic calendar, attracting a broad spectrum of global stakeholders. The Global Expo brings together industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and innovators from across the world. Over the years, it has evolved into a powerful platform for showcasing opportunities in Botswana and linking local enterprises with global markets. In 2023, the exposition made history by hosting the inaugural European Union-Botswana Business Forum. The event has consistently attracted exhibitors from a wide range of countries, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, India, Indonesia, Swaziland, Namibia, and Kenya, making it one of the most diverse and inclusive business gatherings in the region.
This year’s edition will feature international exhibitions, industry-focused workshops, business-to-business matchmaking sessions, and the much-anticipated Pula Investment Conference, a new platform designed to connect promising local projects with investors in a deal-room format. With a sharpened focus on innovation and investment, the 2025 expo will spotlight Botswana’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and create fertile ground for groundbreaking ideas to take root. BITC expects over 300 exhibitors, participation from more than 15 countries, 750 business delegates, and a footfall of over 4,000 visitors. Previously, Global Expo Botswana attracted 200 exhibitors from several continents which include Africa, Europe, South and North America, as well as Asia, making it one of the region’s most diverse and inclusive business gatherings.