The ERTP was necessitated by the negative impact envisaged on the global and national economies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Botswana had just published and finalised its Mid-Term Review of the National Development Plan (NDP) 11. The NDP11 had noted Botswana’s deteriorating fiscal position, the need to diversify the economy and exports, the uncertainties in the diamond industry and Botswana’s poor economic growth, which was failing to deal with the increasing (youth) unemployment. Then COVID-19 hit, meaning all the plans already made would now be met with an even worse fiscal situation, a worse budget, an altered economy and very different priorities.
In that sense, the ERTP was positioned to revisit and rethink the Mid-Term Review whilst maintaining its core priorities of ensuring continued macro-economic strength and stability, investing in economic infrastructure, developing human capital, promoting an export-led economy, improving the efficiency of government spending and financing, developing a vibrant agricultural sector, promoting citizen economic empowerment, investing in the creative industry and growing a safe, sound and inclusive financial services sector.
