Gov�t To Address Business Constraints
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday June 5, 2017 17:01
During the launch of the CEDA/Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) University challenge recently, the VP said that most businesses face a myriad of challenges, which are external factors over which enterprises may have no control, as well as internal factors relating to the capacities and abilities of entrepreneurs.
“The internal factors include lack of management skills, limited information and understanding of markets and finance, a lack of awareness about the value of business support services to name a few,” he said.
The challenge, which was offered by Chairman of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) and the DBSA CEO Patrick Dlamini, will focus on innovative fresh ideas, implementable proposals that address problems faced by Botswana, proposals with a focus on adoption of new and emerging technologies.
It offers to pay out P100,000 to any student who could come up with an implementable solution to address any of the key issues facing Botswana.
Further, in order to encourage entrepreneurship amongst women, if the winning candidate is female will receive an extra P50,000 for a total of P150,000.
Speaking during the launch, CEDA chief executive officer, Thabo Thamane said the challenge aims to identify practical solutions addressing Botswana challenges, as well as to inspire Botswana youth and students to deliver practical and market oriented solutions to Botswana ‘s challenges.
“The challenge also aims to strengthen Botswana innovation ecosystems by mobilising innovation enablers from all sectors to contribute toward a conducive environment to fuel innovation across Botswana in support of national priority areas,” he said.
In addition he said that the challenge is open to youth aged 18 to 35 years specifically enrolled in institutions of higher learning accredited by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) at Batchelor’s Degree, Masters Degree or Doctoral Programmes.
He said as CEDA, their task is to develop the guidelines to ensure that it addresses all the key issues Botswana faces.
On behalf of the DBSA, Dr Zwelethini Tshandu said that it is important that they develop programmes that address the needs of the society and the African economies.
“Education has to provide the kinds of skills that our economies need in order to develop sustainability and equitably. It is vital that education institutions develop thinkers who can plan and see the relationship between politics, development and society,”
He said Africa’s youth bulge or demographic dividend is an opportunity that they need to harness for the success of this continent and education programmes will play an important role in preparing Batswana for an Africa that is productive, purposeful and integrated into regional and global value chain groups.