07 May 2024

The idea to be an export-led economy can be realised if government, parastatals and private sector become aggressive in their quest to nail business deals, says Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela.

He said in an interview on the margins of the US-Africa summit held in Dallas, Texas Monday that any nations that wanted to thrive in today’s dog eat dog world could only do so by actively engaging in global trade.

To this end, Mr Kgafela said Botswana had through the able leadership of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi resolved to forge ties with like-minded partners including Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) through their platform, US-Africa Business Summit to achieve this feat.

“President Dr Masisi has made a constant reminder to Batswana through many platform of the need to rise and become an export-led economy,” he said.

Mr Kgafela was hopeful that this year’s edition of the US-Africa business summit would provide an opportunity for Botswana companies to carry on where they left off with potential business partners during the Botswana edition of the summit last year and secure lucrative deals that included securing huge markets in the US. 

In addition, he said the majority of the Botswana private companies that would be taking part at this summit were ICT companies that he hoped would tap into the Dallas hi-tech ecosystems.

Agriculture, manufacturing, health, finance, minerals were among the sectors that Botswana wanted to explore with a view to establish an array of partnerships.

Mr Kgafela was delighted that the Dallas edition would go a long way at helping Botswana secure market for the Selibi-Phikwe Citrus.

Negotiations to clinch a supply deal of citrus to the US have been going for some time.

The textile industry, which Botswana at some point participated a great deal through The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) but has since dwindled, is another area that Mr Kgafela said would be looked into and hopefully resuscitated.

AGOA, approved by the US Congress in 2000 was established primarily to assist the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as improving economic relations between the US and the region. ENDS