Ballooning import prompts diversification- Motowane

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Friday November 5, 2010 00:00

The Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Maxwell Motowane, said this on Tuesday at the end of the two-day pitso that was themed 'Key to Sustainable Economic Growth and Vibrant Globally Competitive PrivateSector.'

Motowane said the EDD initiative was necessitated by the need to reduce the country's import bill, which stood at P20 billion at the end of the last financial year. He said the private sector had a critical role to play in achieving goals of the EDD.

His ministry was fully behind the private sector because it was an important traveller on the road to economic diversification, he added.

Motowane urged local companies to register with the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) for inclusion on a database of local suppliers so that retailers did not import goods that were locally available.

He said it was equally important that local companies produced quality products and would be required to have obtained an EDD certification. 'You should not hesitate to consult the EDD unit at the ministry in case you encounter any obstacles along the way,' he said.

Motowane talked of the need to avoid crowding in one business interest and to instead venture into untapped markets so that diversity might start at the local level. He said people often crowded in one service or product because of its demand, leading to supply outpacing demand and some businesses collapsing.

He said he was overly impressed with the outcome of the Pitso and wished all the ideas from it would be implemented in the near future.

'Success of a pitso of this calibre will be measured by how many companies and SMMEs benefit and grow and how many business interests come into linkages thereafter,' Motowane said.

'We need to see change of mindset occurring out there in the business field.'The pitso brought together stakeholders from the government and the private sector to discuss in detail ways of diversifying the country's economy that has been dependent on diamond revenue.

 Participants were divided into discussion groups and given various topics to discuss under the EDD initiative and later made presentations  to the pitso.