Buy Botswana Expo Billed For November
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday October 31, 2016 16:01
The inaugural Buy Botswana Expo and Thought Leadership Conference that is endorsed by Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC) through Brand Botswana is expected to equip potential investors and the business community with knowledge of penetrating both local and international markets.
According to the brains behind the expo, Sello Motseta, the purpose of the expo is to celebrate and recognise companies and industries that continue to contribute towards the economy thus reducing the import bill.
“The country’s huge import bill is the one that concerned me. I could not understand why Botswana continues to import so much when there are a lot of agricultural produce by small farmers around the country, but never absorbed by the local market,” he said.
He raised his concern that the country imports substantially basic foodstuffs like vegetables, which are abundant in the country as well as dairy produce.
It has recently been revealed during the annual Job Summit that hundreds of millions of pula were lost in revenue for potential local businesses in areas like peanut butter (P24 million), Jam (P5 million), diary products such as yoghurt (P94 million), cheese (P21 million), textile hats and caps (P30 million), protective wear (P12 million) and linen (P15 million). Other areas where there were unnecessary imports from outside were foam products like beds and mattresses (P22.1 million).
According to Motseta, during their market research for the expo, entrepreneurs echoed different sentiments towards penetrating the local market some expressing their frustration towards market access locally while some pointed to lack of support.
“It has also become clear that not many Batswana knew about some of the great products that are available locally hence why this expo is expected to serve as a reference point for local manufactures and service providers to stimulate SMMEs and share best practices by providing a platform for market access and continuous national dialogue,” he said.
BITC, executive director, Strategy and Competitiveness, Kelotsositse Olebile said that they have decided to endorse the expo, as it will give Batswana an opportunity to showcase the success and strides made to date with regards to diversifying local economy from reliance on mineral wealth.
“It is a platform that encourages discourse around key issues that will help drive our economy such that more Botswana can become active players in the local market. Through the expo we plan to showcase how industries have developed and highlight the various opportunities that are available,” he said.