SONA highlights

Correspondent | Tuesday December 6, 2016 15:55

l As of September 2016 the total number of Batswana who have been employed through ESP stood at 18,867, of whom 8,718 or 46% were youth. Next year will see us rolling out yet another programme, which will embrace every constituency in the country in the form of community projects.
l We anticipate an overall domestic growth rate of 3.5% for this year and 4.1% in 2017. In this respect, while the liquidation of the BCL Group of companies will continue to have economic and social implications, particularly in the area of employment, it is anticipated that it will have limited direct impact in terms of our exports, government revenues and overall growth.
l As at August 2016, foreign exchange reserves were valued at P83.1 billion, equivalent to 18 months of import cover. Of these reserves, the Government Investment Account amounted to P33.8 billion.
l Since its 2010 inception, the EDD Strategy has led to a significant increase in the value of Government procurement from local manufacturers and service providers; annually amounting to over P 2.2 billion over the past three financial years. To date, 1,896 enterprises have been registered under the EDD.
l During the 2015/16 financial year, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) registered P377 million worth of investment expansions resulting from their investor aftercare programme, which encourages companies to reinvest locally. FDI attracted through BITC in 2015 amounted to P1.493 billion compared to P1.489 billion the previous year, while domestic investment amounted to P1.253 billion compared to P238.4 million the previous year. In 2015, BITC further facilitated exports valued at P2.2 billion.
l Botswana’s 241 cooperatives continue to contribute to economic, social and cultural development. Government is therefore monitoring the implementation of the Co-operative Transformation Strategy, with a view to resuscitate, revamp and re-direct the development of co-operatives into competitive businesses.
To facilitate movement of people across our borders, two pilot border posts have been opened at Tshidilamolomo in the Borolong area in December 2015 and Mabolwe in Bobirwa area in June 2016.
l The market demand for rough diamonds improved slightly in 2016, increasing the investors’ confidence in the diamonds supply. Carat sales and revenue for this year are forecast to be 65% and 27% respectively above 2015 as a result of improved global demand.
l Madam Speaker, through Government support, there has been a general increase in the level of citizen investors in tourism. To date, a total of 1,322 operations have been licensed out of which 834 are 100% citizen-owned and 251 are joint ventures and the remaining 237 are non-citizens.
l With respect to the Kazungula Bridge Project, temporary works on the Zambian side is now complete, whilst on the Botswana side it is at 86%. Overall permanent bridge works are at 13% completion. Construction has also commenced on the Charleshill-Ncojane road in June 2016.
l Madam Speaker, we are committed to eliminating malaria by 2018. This will be realised if communities in affected areas participate and play their part. This includes allowing our spray teams into homes, sleeping under insecticide treated nets as well as keeping surrounding areas clean.