Govt courts funders for economic development, diversity

President Mokgweetsi Masisi said government is currently engaging major continental financial institutions to open up funding options in order to industrialise and diversify the economy. Delivering the State of the Nation Address on Monday President Masisi acknowledged that Botswana’s domestic growth rate of 4,2 percent in 2023 falls short of the 5.7 percent required to attain a high- income status by 2036. “It is for this reason that we are intensifying our efforts to restructure the economy. This is being done through ramping up industrialisation, development of value chains, diversification and beneficiation of our minerals.” The international funds are expected to support the development of bankable projects in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, including the development of Special Economic Zones and strategic rail and road infrastructure.