Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana’s commitment to investing in innovation and research, strategic location and respect for the rule of law positions the country as an ideal destination for innovators.
Delivering the welcome remarks during Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s 2023 Foundry Fellows tour in Gaborone, Friday, Minister of Communication, Knowledge and Technology, Mr Thulagano Segokgo said government was fully committed to creating a conducive environment for international investors to invest in local innovations.
He said Botswana stood as a beacon of hope and opportunity on the African continent and had nurtured an environment that championed innovation and forward thinking.
As such, he said the country took pride in being a nation where ideas were transformed into thriving businesses and where entrepreneurs were supported in their quest to make a difference in the economic space.
He said it was encouraging for the public and private sector to work together in enhancing Botswana’s pivotal role in the entrepreneurship and innovation eco-system.
“As we embark on this tour, we find ourselves at an intersection of ambition and innovation at the centre of a thriving global movement that is driven by a collective vision to shape the future through entrepreneurship and innovation,” Minister Segokgo said.
The vision, he said, was aligned to Botswana’s commitment to growth and sustainability.
Minister Segokgo commended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s 2023 Foundry Fellows, stating that they were a catalyst for change with a vision to find solutions to some of the pressing challenges.
Noting that MIT was a leading global academic institution that had been a dominating factor for many decades, the minister expressed delight that the collaboration between the institution and local innovators would go a long way in aiding and accelerating the development of innovation-driven enterprises across the world.
Minister Segokgo noted the country’s aspiration to become a high-income knowledge-based economy by 2036, saying the partnerships with international innovators and entrepreneurs held the key to unlocking Botswana’s potential as an innovation centre.
Minister Segokgo said the secret to unlocking Africa’s prosperity and potential lied in removing barriers to trade and investment as well as creating an environment for entrepreneurs to collaborate and network.
“One of the key ingredients to achieving this shared vision is to continue to enable and facilitate entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems to thrive, hence the Botswana Innovation Hub was established for this very purpose,” he said.
Director of MIT Legatum Center, Ms Dina Sherif applauded Botswana for opening doors to foreign investors and establishing policies that drive direct foreign investors.
She applauded Botswana for the strides made in the direction of sustainable prosperity by occupying a special place in the innovation space. Additionally, she reaffirmed MIT’s Legatum Center’s commitment to working with local innovators to find solutions for some of Africa’s complex challenges.
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