Harvey’s local creative industry plan revived
American television producer, Steve Harvey’s investment plan for the local creative industry has been revived after talks with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to bankroll the project.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Afreximbank president, Benedict Oramah revealed Wednesday at the opening of the Global Expo in Gaborone that Harvey’s investment project will benefit from the bank’s $500 million fund.
“We have a programme at the bank called the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX). This is a programme we have to support the creative and cultural industries across Africa,” said Oramah. He added that Africa has many people in the diaspora who have plans to set up investments in the continent.
One of those is Steve Harvey, who is planning to set up a centre here where he will produce movies and shows not for the US but globally, he said.
“That’s one of the projects we will finance under the $500 million creative industry programme. Steve Harvey mentioned that he was fascinated by the opportunity Botswana presents. He mentioned that he realised the production costs could be a fraction of what it is in the US with the people of very high quality,” Oramah added. He said Harvey has been particularly impressed by the country’s low labour and production costs while there is abundant talent and skills.
“He was excited and we also are excited to be working with him to realise his ambition to turn Botswana into a major creative industry centre in the continent.”
Oramah’s remarks came after Masisi said they had a conversation with Oramah about their plan to fund creative investment plans.
Masisi said: “We spoke at length about the fundamentals of a knowledge-based economy that we seek to realise in Botswana especially in the creative arts space.”
The President also said through the project, the local creative industry would be invigorated. Last year there was uproar locally after government allegedly handpicked Steve Harvey Global (SHG) to revamp Mass Media.
Government through the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SHG regarding facilitation of the creative industry.
While details surrounding the deal were sketchy, it was said that through the arrangement, SHG was to be appointed for the provision of radio and television production services to DBS for a period of three years. It was said the existence of the MoU provides an opportunity for relationship building between SHG and government which is necessary for the successful delivery of such a strategic project for the Department.
The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) public relations and education manager, Charles Keikotlhae had at the time explained to Mmegi that the use of Direct Procurement Method to engage SHG was because the services were considered strategic in achieving the mandate of the DBS and instrumental in coming up with procurement strategies for such services and products, which are considered key to the delivery of procuring entities’ mandate, strategic alliances are usually built, in this instance.