Barclays to relocate to P110m CBD complex

Barclays Bank of Botswana will next year relocate its headquarters from the Government Enclave to a five storey complex in the new Central Business District (CBD) following yesterday's signing ceremony with the developer of the new building.

The 5,000 square metres complex, which forms the second phase of the  Prime Plaza, is currently being  built at the tune of P110 million by   listed property developers, Prime Time. The first phase of the Prime Plaza is a two storey building which was completed last year and is already occupied by CEDA.Speaking at the signing ceremony, Barclays  chairman  Rizwan Desai  said that they beat several other competitors who were eyeing the same complex. The chairman said the current headquarters, Barclays House,  is now becoming old hence the need to move to a newer location.

"We will certainly make our presence felt. It is tailor-made for the presence of a modern bank operation, a world class building for a world class financial institution," said the Barclays chairman.He added that the new headquarters will also house a wellness centre with a modern fitness centre for employees. According to Barclays head of corporate real estate Baks Chakalisa, the new building is expected to be ready for occupation by August 2014, with two basement floors. He hailed the complex for its strategic positioning which he says will give their brand unparalleled visibility from all angles. "It has a 360 degree view. The brand will be visible from all angels, and it is also accessible from the Gaborone West Phase II road, or from the Masa complex road," explained Chakalisa.
He further estimated that the complex is capable of housing 410 workers.

Editor's Comment
A promising step for public schools, but...

For too long, the state of many public schools has been a source of shame. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories of broken windows, unreliable water and electricity, topped by classrooms that are not fit for proper learning. The establishment of the Education Infrastructure and Management Company Ltd (EIMC) signals that authorities are finally ready to take this problem seriously. We must commend the government for this initiative....

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