Government is putting in place several plans to promote ease of doing business, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mmusi Kgafela recently made the revelation.

The Minister told parliament that disruptive transformative steps aimed at facilitating the improvement of the doing business environment; development of strategic industry support infrastructure, value chain development and attainment of digital economy are being taken.

“To increase Botswana’s attractiveness as an investment destination of choice, my Ministry is reviewing the National Investment Strategy ( NIS) which is expected to be completed by the end of quarter one of 2023/ 24 financial year.

“At the heart of the NIS is Botswana’s business case for boosting domestic productive capacity, attracting new investment flows, transitioning to more innovative and sustainable investments and a sea change in ways of working and the investment mind- set,” said Kgafela. Despite Botswana making it to the list of Africa’s fastest- growing economies, with most stable political and economic environment, the economy is ranked 87 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings.

Some of the areas that the country still lags behind on in the ease of doing business charts is enforcing contracts, getting credit, protecting minority investors and registering property.

In addition, Kgafela said to make the country’s goods and services globally competitive, government has developed the National Quality Policy ( NQP) with the aim of increasing market access for Botswana products both locally and for the export market.

“This policy was approved by parliament during its February 2022 sitting. Furthermore, the Botswana Intellectual Property Policy ( BIPP) was also approved during the same parliament sitting.

“The policy aims at leveraging Botswana’s Intellectual Property potential for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development.”

Kgafela also highlighted that roll out of an e- commerce strategy has commenced, following a national committee launched in August 2022.

“The committee is charged with overseeing implementation of the e- commerce Strategy,” said Kgafela, citing that government is developing a legal framework aimed at creating a conducive legislative environment which is in line with international best practices.

“To promote inclusivity, the Ministry launched an e- Commerce Portal, which will enable small businesses to also trade online thereby provide market access opportunities.”

The Minister further highlighted that in collaboration with European Delegation to Botswana and SADC, strides in the implementation of the Job Creation and Investment ( JCIC) Programme have been made. “One major deliverable of this Programme is a Baseline study report on the Doing Business and Investment Climate in Botswana.

The main outcome of the report is the acceptance of the important need to develop the investment law.” Meanwhile, Botswana recently hosted the inaugural SACU Ministerial Investment Roundtable whose objective was to engage in a dialogue on unlocking opportunities around the priority sectors earmarked for the development of regional value chains.

Kgafela said the Roundtable emphasized the importance of investing in cross- border infrastructure projects which are key to industrialization.

“The private sector will be the custodian of the proposed cross border projects,” said the Minister, imploring private sector to take the lead in the development of regional valuechains with a view to developing the projects.