Stimulate private sector for job creation - EU Ambassador

There is a crucial need to stimulate the development of the private sector and create enabling conditions for businesses to grow and create jobs.

EU Ambassador Petra Pereyra stated that the Job creation and Investment Climate programme and the EPA support programmes are two EU flagship programmes in Botswana to support the economic transformation and diversification of the country and its ambition to attain high- income status by 2036, while reducing poverty and inequalities.

Pereyra said they are glad to see that positive results have been achieved already. She indicated that the Ministry ensures the leadership and the coordination for both programmes.

Speaking during the National Dissemination Conference of the Comparative Analysis of Doing Business and Investment Climate in Botswana & Identification and Action Plan of Key Improvement Areas, Pereyra stated that it reflects the strong ownership of the government, as well as the dedication of its staff to achieve the objectives of our partnership. She said 50 percent of the active population of Botswana work as civil servants.

The Ambassador explained that the comparative study not only draws the current picture of the business environment in Botswana but provides critical recommendations for the country to decide on the necessary reforms to make a difference compared to other countries in the region and beyond.

She said consolidating the image of Botswana as a champion reformer can make a difference in the decision of any investor willing to expand his or her economic activities abroad.

“I acknowledge that the event today is to disseminate these findings and recommendations to a larger audience, collect comments and address concerns. There will be more discussions with the government regarding recommendations to be adopted in priority and possible further support to support key reform areas.” Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Malebogo Morakaladi said their reforms journey started back in 2011 with the establishment of the different structures to oversee implementation of the Doing Business Reforms Agenda.

She said in 2013, her Ministry partnered with the World Bank Group to develop and provide technical assistance for the Doing Business Reforms Roadmap which was approved by Cabinet in 2015.

“I wish to highlight that some of the outcomes of the Roadmap include, Online Business Registration System ( OBRS); Amendments of the Trade and Industrial Development Acts; Customs Management Systems; Electronic Filing and payment of taxes; Amendment of the Environmental Assessment Act, among others.

Ease of Doing Business continues to be one of Government’s priority areas which is aimed at improving the investment and doing business climate. This is because the challenges facing the business community are ever- changing which warrants for continuous improvement with the relevant interventions,” she highlighted.

Morakaladi stated that her Ministry has partnered with the European Delegation to Botswana and SADC to carry out a three- year programme dubbed Job Creation and Investment Climate ( JCIC).

The main objectives of the programme are to: Improve Botswana’s investment climate and competitiveness; and Ecotourism development, with a focus on community based economically viable and effectively managed ecotourism enterprises.

“On realising that E- Government is a key enabler to ease of doing business, the Ministry decided to include it under the former objective, which is in line with the Reset Agenda and Digital Transformation Strategy.

“A team of long and short term experts have been busy on the ground working on the different components of the Programme since the inception of the programme in June 2021,” Morakaladi said.