Local Manufacturing Summit 25 puts emphasis on agro-processing
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday August 13, 2025 06:00
According to officials, this year’s event will broaden its focus to include agro-processing as a key driver of agricultural value addition, youth empowerment and job creation. It will be held under the theme, ‘Shaping the Future of Botswana’s Manufacturing Sector: Exploring the Opportunities of Industrial Manufacturing and agro-Processing’ from the 1st to the 2nd of September in Gaborone. The Botswana Chamber of Mines (BCM), alongside Business Botswana (BB), working in collaboration with strategic public and private-sector partners, organise the summit, which serves as the country’s premier platform for stakeholders across the manufacturing value chain. BCM’s Senior Project Manager Joseph Ramotshabi emphasised their commitment to using the gathering as a platform to stimulate job creation and attract both local and foreign direct investment into the manufacturing sector. “Local manufacturers are encouraged to invest in high-tech solutions and skills training to produce competitive products for both domestic use and export,” he said.
It is expected that during the 2025 edition, industry associations such as BB, the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) and the Agricultural Manufacturing Association will play a pivotal role in shaping discussions and outcomes. Equally, the event will explore how Botswana can leverage opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), strengthen investment readiness, and showcase innovations in manufacturing technologies. Key areas of focus include driving local production, enhancing value addition, and boosting export competitiveness. BCM first established the Local Manufacturing Summit as part of its wider commitment to building a sustainable local manufacturing sector. Past initiatives, including the Chamber of Mines Business Development Forum (COMBDF), Supplier Development Programme (SDP), and Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP) laid the groundwork for the summit’s collaborative approach.
On his part, Business Botswana Head of Business Development Services Kagiso Koyabe reaffirmed that manufacturing remains a cornerstone of economic development, especially for middle-income economies like Botswana. She said it presents opportunities for structural transformation, sustainable job creation and export diversification, all critical for national economic resilience. The BB representative added that despite its potential, the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP stood at only 5.5 per cent as of 2024, highlighting both a shortfall and an opportunity for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, investors and the broader business community. The annual event aligns closely with Botswana’s long-term economic transformation agenda, particularly the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and the Reset and Reclaim Agenda, both of which prioritise industrial competitiveness, local production, and value addition as cornerstones of sustainable growth. By fostering collaboration and showcasing innovation, the summit is expected to position Botswana’s manufacturing and agro-processing sectors for greater global relevance while ensuring inclusive economic benefits at home.