Forum told SMMEs are vital to diversification

This was said by the Director of the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) Ratang Sehuhule at the Bankers Forum at Tati River Lodge at which First National Bank, Venture Partners Botswana, Barclays Bank, Stanbic Bank, CEDA, NDB, and Standard Chartered were among the companies that made presentations here last week.

"We are all aware that Botswana is pursuing,  economic diversification from the mining sector, Sehuhule said. "We believe that the important drivers of this economy will be strong agricultural, manufacturing and tourism sectors."But in order to strengthen these sectors, a flourishing SME sector is necessary. "SMMEs have cited lack of finance as the main factor to their detriment," she said. "LEA has found it critical to adopt credit facilitation as one of the interventions in supporting SMMEs.