Private sector taps into EU's P185m fund

BOCCIM and BEMA are business sector organisations representing a large section of Botswana-based private entities of various sizes and engaged in diverse industries. Botswana, together with Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland, signed an Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union (EU) in June this year, following approximately five years of negotiations.

Among many other clauses relating to market access for Botswana goods into the EU, the iEPA incorporates a capacity building facility to enable the local private sector to take advantage of the easier access to the European market.