"We are ready for liberalisation. Botswana, with a small domestic market, literally imports everything," he said, adding that Botswana would just have to be competitive.
The minister said Botswana companies were not yet ready to "answer" to global competition, but that they need to develop a global outlook.
"We have to have the fortitude and resolve that our companies participate in the global economy." The minister acknowledged the challenges that Botswana companies face, such as high shipment costs that push up the cost of doing business.
As a landlocked country, Botswana exporters - including those in the textile industry - have to use South African ports to reach out the US market under Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
However, the minister said these hurdles were being addressed at both the regional level and by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"We are taking up the issue with the WTO and we are also negotiating with our neighbours for free movement of goods."
Moroka suggested that regional transport ministers could work together under the trade facilitation of SADC.
The MTS Open Door Week brought together stakeholders from Government and the private sector to share information about the Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP), which is coming to an end this year.
The programme - which was sponsored by the World Bank and the International Trade Centre (ITC), amongst others - was meant to build capacity on trade negotiation skills. Although Moroka admitted that they were not able to build sufficient capacity under the programme, he says he is impressed that some improvement was achieved.
"Capacity-building will be sustainable. It is our determination as Government to build capacity without external assistance," he said.
His ministry had made strides on trade negotiations in that they had been able to train people and provide resources.
In the past, a Permanent Secretary at his ministry was a Chief Trade Negotiator; a substantive negotiator has now been appointed to focus on issues of international trade negotiations.
