BSE beefs up support for SMEs
Friday, February 13, 2026 | 10 Views |
Helping hand: Moribame says the BSE is boosting its SME programmes and assistance PIC: FNBB FACEBOOK
SMEs are traditionally reluctant to approach the BSE for listing mainly due to concerns around upfront fees, cost of compliance, as well as the burden of corporatisation, especially perceptions involving the loss of control that comes with inviting the public onto the share registry.
The BSE is partnering with the government in its SME financing drive, with Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe on Monday unveiling a P1.31 billion allocation across various programmes for SMEs. He also pledged more progress on the National Fund of Funds, which is planned to finance the citizen enterprise ecosystem from the 2027–2028 financial year.
These are not ordinary times. Yet, history reminds us that this nation has navigated difficult waters before and did so by clinging firmly to the principles of prudence and macroeconomic stability. From independence in 1966, Botswana chose a path few resource-rich countries managed to sustain. Diamond revenues were not treated as windfalls for reckless expansion, but as capital to be managed with caution. The establishment of fiscal rules,...