The strategies, which will guide investment decisions, are expected to be complete in time for the next Full Council meeting in September.
They will be a product of a collaborative effort among all sectors in directing, motivating, and stimulating economic development. The LED process will engage all stakeholders whose role in the development agenda is necessary.
Giving his address recently, the newly elected GCC Mayor Austin Abraham said Gaborone has a collection of resources that can support the local economic development drive and that the strategy will pronounce deliberate strategies for mapping and exploitation of these resources.
“Consultations have already started with relevant key stakeholders on the economic analysis of the district after which communities will be consulted for identification of potential projects,” he said.
He further said he will be engaging small businesses to increase their economic participation, following the endorsement of the Citizen Economic Inclusion Bill.
“Currently, a plan to provide working space for informal traders who utilize wooden pallets along Kgobaseretse Road in Old Naledi is underway. A total of seven light industrial plots were allocated to the council for that purpose. The council commits to embark on similar efforts to coordinate the informal traders across the city through the implementation of the LED strategies. On another good note, plans are in place to develop a model market in Old Naledi,” he said.
The mayor further said the council has been engaging with the informal sector in the Main Mall to re-arrange traders according to the types of businesses in operation. The proposed project entails bringing life into the three squares by way of converting one into a cultural hub and organizing informal traders into the remaining two.
“I appeal to the private sector to consider designing and providing temporary structures for the informal sector around the city. The modalities of informal sector management will be determined by the existing survey of the informal sector within the city,” he said.
