SMMEs form new advocacy body
Market access and other barriers remain a stumbling block to start- ups and growing enterprises across the country. This business scourge has motivated setting up of a new advocacy council– Association of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise Business in Botswana. Established last month, the Association has hit the ground running and is already setting up a series of meetings with relevant stakeholders in the economy to prop up development of small, micro medium enterprises.
Fuelled by existing statutory instruments that seek to grow industries through supporting local manufacturers, the Association is optimistic of local enterprise growth and ready to advocate for more incentives for entrepreneurs.
“The restrictions on the importation of certain products and services creates opportunities for local manufacturers and service providers to fill the void and grow as well as diversify the economy.
“The outbreak of COVID- 19 has helped to heighten the importance of building resilience in our supply mechanisms and increasing selfsufficiency in various sectors of our economy. Lest we become independent only in name,” said the Association’s Chairperson, Sello Motseta.
He said the advent of free trade are in Africa and the protection available for infant industries is also a lifeline that exist for SMMEs to grow exponentially beyond the boundaries of their countries of origin and maximize wealth and job creation.
So far nine statutory instruments which include restriction of importation of baked goods, school uniforms, cloth face masks, importation of salt, bottled water restriction, restriction on exports of scrap metals, importation of maize extruded snacks, importation of wheat flour and importation of sugar have been enacted to protect local industries and drive their growth.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi has also recently announced that his administration remains unfazed on its decision to restrict importation of a number of fresh vegetables. “While the move has been criticised in some quarters and has caused some shortages here and there of certain fresh produce items, it is providing many of our people with opportunities to get involved in farming and create viable businesses.
“We are yet to undertake an assessment but so far the development is positive,” said Masisi at the official opening of the Fields Mall, owned by a consortium of local investors. He said his government is determined to ensure that many products in the retail shelves are locally produced, imploring that local entrepreneurs should enter into the manufacturing. “Venturing into manufacturing will also position our country to take advantage of the various market access we have secured especially through the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA),” said Masisi. Despite so much ground work being put in place to prop up entrepreneurs, Motseta said some of the chainstores still shun local produced goods and the association has recently engaged BITC to help capacitate companies to meet standards set by retailers as a precondition for being approved as suppliers. “This is a significant milestone for us as a young Association because one of our members has struggled to get their cleaning chemicals on the shelves of retailers. That opportunity is now within arm’s reach.
“We are very excited about growing our collaboration and trying to create opportunities for SMMEs to continue up scaling and expanding their businesses,” said Motseta.
Venturing into manufacturing will also position our country to take advantage of the various market access we have secured especially through the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA),