Boteti manufacturing expo drives economic diversification
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Tuesday December 2, 2025 09:50
The inaugural expo was held under the theme 'Creating Successful Opportunities'. During his keynote address, the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) Public Relations Manager, Patrick Molokwe, stated that manufacturing is the engine that will power the sustainable future they are all envisioning.
He further stated that the era of over-reliance on diamonds is behind them, and the era of economic diversification is firmly upon them. According to Molokwe, the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) outlines the nation's aspiration to become a high-income country that is digitally enabled, export-driven, and economically diversified.
'At the heart of this transformation lies a singular objective: creating quality jobs for Batswana through inclusive, competitive, and sustainable growth,' he continued. Additionally, he stated that local manufacturing stands at the centre of this transformation.
It is the bridge between raw materials and value-added products, between an extractive economy and one built on innovation, resilience, and industrial capability, he stated. He also stated that the government is actively creating opportunities for manufacturers through several strategic interventions.
Molokwe indicated that the interventions include mining beneficiation and backward integration, the rise of new industrial sectors, including the Letlhakane Uranium project, targeting three million pounds of uranium annually.
Additionally, the K Hill Battery-Grade Manganese Project in Kanye, anchored in the global electric vehicle value chain, and the Ngamiland Iron Ore Project, poised to bolster their domestic steel industry, were mentioned.
He stated that each of these ventures requires robust manufacturing capacity, from metal fabrication to industrial supply chains. 'These are opportunities waiting to be seized through enabling infrastructure. Special Economic Zones are catalysts for industrialisation. SEZA exists to ensure that investors benefit from world-class infrastructure, streamlined approvals, and an enabling regulatory environment,' he stated.
He further stated that when manufacturers set up in their zones, they plug into a system designed for export competitiveness and efficiency. He also commended Debswana's Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP) as its shift towards supporting local manufacturing aligns perfectly with national priorities.
Therefore, he urged other industry players to follow suit and intensify their support for local production. According to Molokwe, this expo is one of CEEP's bold initiatives to unlock local value chains.
He stated that the expo invites businesses to position themselves as preferred partners to Debswana and the broader mining ecosystem. 'This is strategic sourcing in action: replacing imports with local capacity, creating sustainable jobs, and building industries that will thrive beyond the lifespan of our mines,' he stated.
Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) General Manager, Mogakolodi Maoketsa, stated that the expo is more than a showcase but it is a physical manifestation of a bold strategic shift, which is meant to drive economic diversification in Boteti and their country as a whole.
He highlighted that the expo is a critical milestone, for it is the platform where the Debswana strategy meets its community, where intention meets action. 'We are not just supporting businesses; we are building an industrial legacy for Boteti,' he stated. He indicated that the expo presents over 20 manufacturers from across Boteti, operating in sectors such as textile, brick moulding, construction, and detergents production, amongst others.
'Let us interact with them and create a lasting and meaningful network that will see our manufacturing industry grow in leaps and bounds,' he stated.