SEZs implementation underway
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday June 7, 2017 15:00
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Peggy Serame told a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing recently that her ministry is working around the clock to ensure fast tracking of the implementation of the SEZs, adding that they have given infrastructure development a priority.
According to Serame, they have also started recruitment of the SEZs chief executive officer (CEO) noting that it would be complete by the end of this month.
“We are doing our best to ensure that we fast track the implementation of the SEZs. We have already identified someone who has the relevant expertise and intend to finalise the recruitment of the CEO by end of June this year,” she said.
According to Serame, they have also engaged a technical advisor who would look at the regulations of SEZs as well as development strategy.
She said the technical advisor has so far reviewed the size of the identified areas and confirmed that it is relevant.
“The technical advisor has reviewed the size of the identified areas and confirmed that it is relevant as well as looked at the chosen sectors and made some suggestions where necessary,” she said. Serame noted that in the first phase, the Ministry has prioritised Gaborone’s Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA), Pandamatenga, and Selebi-Phikwe adding that these would include infrastructure development.
At least eight regions have already been identified as potentially viable for SEZs. These include SSKIA and Fairgrounds in Gaborone, as well as Lobatse, Selebi-Phikwe, Pandamatenga, Palapye, Francistown and Tuli Block.
The primary aim of SEZs incentives will be to overcome barriers to trade, investment and the attraction of foreign direct investment. The SEZ is expected to address issues of restrictive policies, excessive bureaucracy and limited access to serviced land, as well as creating a more competitive or conducive business environment for the attraction of investors.