BBS Bank and Debswana sign Memorandum Of Understanding to assist SMEs 

correspondent | Monday November 2, 2026 08:58

 

The MOU signing was after the presentation from the CEO of Debswana, Mr Andrew Motsomi and panel discussion where BBS Bank Managing Director, Pedzani Tafa participated. In his presentation the Debswana CEO launched their new strategy Yamasa which is centred around economic diversification and support for SMEs.

Speaking during the panel discussion, Tafa explored the theme, “How Can We Build a Financial Ecosystem That Truly Supports Entrepreneurs?”

In the panel discussion, she highlighted the need for a financial ecosystem that goes beyond funding to address the practical challenges entrepreneurs face in building sustainable businesses.

“Ordinarily, a viable project is not necessarily a bankable project, and one of the first things that we ought to do to assist SMEs is make these viable projects bankable projects,” said Tafa, emphasising the need to equip entrepreneurs with the skills and support required to access financing.

She mentioned the structuring of facilities through products like purchase order financing where the receivables of an SME can be used to unlock working capital. She went in to explain the structure wherein the offtaker of a particular service or product gets into an agreement with BBS Bank and the SME to pay proceeds directly to BBS Bank post-delivery. This structure enables the SME to get a purchase order finance loan from BBS Bank to perform their work for the offtaker and improve the supplier chain process for the offtaker.

Tafa stressed the importance of collaboration between banks and other institutions to help SMEs develop capabilities that make their projects bankable. Through its financial advisory services, BBS Bank supports businesses with deal structuring and financial decision-making to help them better navigate their financing needs.

The discussion reinforced the importance of combining access to finance with advisory support, skills development and strategic partnerships to help SMEs become more resilient and sustainable contributors to Botswana’s economy.

The presentation by Debswana CEO and panel discussion by BBS Bank MD aligned in the support for SMEs within the economy. In that regard the MOU will be mutually beneficial for the two entities in the common quest of SME development and economic diversification. End.