From the pandemic and escalated shipping costs; Evergreen’s six-day siege of the Suez Canal; Richard’s Bay Port shipping jam; Russia-Ukraine War disrupting fuel and cereal supplies; and more recently the Trump tariffs imposed and revoked over several countries; global traders have been forced to grapple with disruptions to traditionally established trade channels and corridors. Closer to home, the opportunities presented by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement have been countered by challenging tariff negotiations and protectionist stances by countries and trading blocs. Amid these challenges, emerges pockets of opportunity, more especially for the Retail sector with global touchpoints catering to multiple and ever-evolving consumer trends. While there appears to be growing divisions, from the perspective of trade this presents opportunities for optionality, integration, and consolidation with an end objective of optimized and resilient supply-chain channels able to withstand local and global to systemic shocks. Chinese manufacturers and their distributors taking to Tik-Tok to advertise premium goods at discounted prices to specific markets are a good case study of understanding value chains in detail to the extent of bypassing blockades to still get goods to the final consumer. Despite its relatively small size, the Botswana market hosts sophisticated consumers with diverse tastes and the trade-friendly operating environment fosters opportunities to participate meaningfully in regional and even continental markets. Players who excel sustainably in the Botswana market will find themselves in good standing to succeed in other markets.
According to Statista Market Insights, Botswana’s retail market is valued at BWP 24 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.66%. Consumer behavior is evolving, particularly among younger, tech-savvy demographics. Online shopping is growing, albeit from a low base, and mobile money is gaining traction. Yet for many SMEs, limited access to digital payment systems, real-time banking tools, and tailored financing continues to restrict their ability to scale. This is where Access Bank Botswana is helping shift the narrative. Access Bank Botswana has invested significantly in building a digital ecosystem that aligns with the country’s broader economic priorities, namely, financial inclusion, job creation and innovation. As part of the Access Bank Group, with operations across 15 African countries and over 63 million customers globally, the Botswana subsidiary has inherited both scale and experience in delivering tech-driven banking solutions that meet real-world challenges. Access Bank Botswana’s approach centered on scalable technology, ecosystem thinking, and inclusion offers a blueprint for how the financial sector can actively enable Botswana’s retail revolution. At the heart of its retail offering is Primus+, a business banking platform designed for efficiency, transparency and accessibility. Built with businesses including SMEs in mind, Primus+ allows retail companies to manage cash flow, perform transactions, and receive payments securely digitally. With over 12.5 million USSD users across the Access Bank network and more than 18.5 million internet banking users, the Group’s digital adoption strategy is already well proven.
