City Mayor Gaone Majere revealed the figures were compiled from monthly business statistics collected through the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), covering both formal and informal businesses operating within the city. Speaking during a full council meeting this week, he said a total of 131 enterprises contributed to the recorded turnover during the three-month period. The services sector accounted for the largest share at 73.8%, followed by manufacturing at 22.6%, while the agriculture and tourism sectors contributed the remainder. Majere noted the statistics provide an important baseline for assessing business performance and developing targeted interventions aimed at improving the sustainability and growth of enterprises in the Francistown region. He said economic diversification efforts had also focused on supporting aspiring entrepreneurs.
The support is offered through business advisory services and assistance with developing viable and bankable business plans for submission to funding institutions such as the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA). Amongst the projects facilitated by the country’s second city are PET bottle (plastic bottles) recycling and ecotourism projects, both whose funding requests were approved for funding by CEDA. The PET bottle recycling project is already operational and has created 10 permanent jobs, according to Majere. The project contributes not only to employment creation but also to environmental sustainability through waste management and recycling. The ecotourism project, meanwhile, is at the implementation stage and once operational, it is expected to contribute to economic diversification, create employment and promote sustainable tourism by utilising the region's natural and cultural resources. Majere also highlighted the role of the Francistown Industrial Business Incubator, operated by LEA, in supporting manufacturing enterprises.
