Marekisetso market connects cottage businesses

The Marekisetso Market aims at providing a business forum for local and regional cottage industry producers.

Organiser of this initiative, Rahman El-kindiy, tells Sun Business that, through this platform, cottage industry producers would network and showcase their products and produce.

“The aim is to attract and expand their businesses partnerships and sub-contracting linkages with larger organizations as well as promote them both locally and internationally,” he explains. Rahman further explains that, The Marekisetso Market is an undertaking by the Cottage Industries Botswana (CIB) in collaboration with Cresta Lodge. He also adds that, participating in the Marekisetso increases business exposure and affords the opportunity to forge new business relationships and introduce products to the marketplace. “The market opens an opportunity for all small vendors and homebased manufacturers and producers to actively promote their business or products and stimulate their regional business and trade opportunities, strike partnerships and joint ventures, as well as network and acquire new knowledge and learn how to access new markets,” he says, adding that this is a need for any other business to grow.

Participation includes regular training workshops through Cottage Industries Botswana, prior to the Market dates, to train the micro industries on marketing skills and methods to propel their business to a higher level, he says. Furthermore, participants would also have an opportunity to take part in sessions of presentations on how to run their businesses successfully. These presentations would be led by renowned industry leaders from around Botswana. Rahman says this business forum setup is designed to operate on a monthly basis.