BB calls for extension of development programme
Isaac Pinielo | Wednesday June 14, 2017 17:20
He said BB as the implementing agency is of the view that the implementation of the programme, which started in 2013, is short and that it should be a long-term programme.
“For any change of attitude and behaviour in the way SMMEs run their enterprises, there is need for multiple and repeated interventions,” he said. He said the programme capacitated 130 enterprises, which he said is only a fraction of enterprises in Botswana, which is too low to make a major impact in the economy.
However, Moatshe said the PSDP has progressed well with most desired goals achieved. He said the programme was developed in response to the Private Sector Development Strategy (PSDS) that was initiated by BB in partnership with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, European Union and the Centre for Development of Enterprises.
According to Moatshe, the programme identified 100 beneficiaries, adding that further support was provided to over 30 women led enterprises, under the Women Entrepreneurship Development programme funded by Chanel Foundation. Meanwhile, the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Vincent Seretse has expressed hope that the PSDP will provide long-term solutions that will develop sustainable enterprises that can provide employment.
He stated that the interventions that were implemented in the beneficiary enterprises resulted in significant increase in employment and turnover. “Some enterprises managed to increase both their turnover and employment by more than 50%. I am therefore hopeful that these milestones will be sustained and replicated across the various enterprises in the country,” Seretse said.
He said the development of the Market Intelligence Information Systems (MIIS) has the ability to open up international market access for local businesses. “The MIIS will complement government’s efforts in opening up market access for local products,” he said.
The MIIS was developed by BB to assist in diversifying the economy by providing information on domestic and international markets in terms of how to access and grow those markets for local businesses especially small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs). In this regard, Seretse said the ministry is working closely with the business community to disseminate information on the SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC-EPA) and the SADC trade protocols.
“The objective of the exercise amongst others is to ensure that the private sector is well informed to exploit opportunities arising from these agreements,” he said. He said his ministry has engaged with 300 enterprises in at least seven locations across the country about the economic agreements.
EU representative in Botswana, Herman Spitz has appealed to BB to ensure that the MIIS remains alive and in use in the long-term. He advised BB to explore possibilities for revenue generation potential by making the platform available for use in order to afford the maintenance of MIIS.