BITC warns of obstacles that hamper investment opportunities in Ftown
Patricia Edwin | Thursday October 9, 2014 16:04
Speaking at a special full council meeting held on Tuesday, BITC executive director, Lonely Mogara, said their challenges include shortage of skilled labour and lack of recreational facilities. He also cited poor international and local air connection and said they needed to lobby for more domestic and international flights.
Mogara said that another snag in a long list of challenges was poor infrastructure such as roads, sewerage and inadequate parking in the CBD as these are problematic issues in Francistown.
“We must upgrade and maintain existing infrastructure and privatise infrastructural development and maintenance and open spaces for expansion,” he said.
He added that the city needed to tailor develop courses to suit the regional sector gaps and also ensure availability of training facilities.
He also said the city should also position itself to serve surrounding areas and transit customers and work on improving existing conferencing facilities to world class.
Mogara also called for world-class sports facilities.
“The sports complex has to be completed and you also have to advocate for private sector participation in sport-related activities such as setting up golf courses,” he said.
He added that poor urban planning also needed to be addressed with better urban design and revised planning statutes.
Mogara also noted that it’s imperative to decentralise and empower the local authority. He further said the greater Francistown region was ideal for investment as it gives investors access to a market base of at least 200 million people.
“It boasts an international standard airport, good rail and road connectivity, abundant water and land resources, reliable energy supply and divine scenic view. The region is endowed with untapped mineral resources and diverse culture,” he said.