Africa-Press – Botswana. Members of Hospitality and Tourism Association Botswana (HATAB) have been advised to engage the government on any piece of legislation that impedes the growth of their businesses.
Addressing HATAB members and stakeholders during cocktail dinner in Maun on Wednesday, Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa said government was committed to creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
The position of the government, he said, was to do away with impediments that hindered progress, citing that there was no legislation that allowed cultivation of Hemp but government would find a way to ensure cultivation of Hemp took place.
Mr Mohwasa called on members and other stakeholders to join hands with the new administration to grow the economy and deliver a new Botswana.
He noted that HATAB annual conference marked the association’s 40 years anniversary, which symbolised an enduring passion and unwavering commitment by the association to not only contribute to the growth of tourism sector but the national economy.
“Over these four decades we have seen a tremendous growth in our economic activities particularly in the host areas of Okavango and Chobe where certainly culture has been promoted, improvement in businesses and the livelihoods of the people,” he added.
Furthermore, he expressed gratitude to HATAB for convening the impactful event gathering leading voices and experts to deliberate on pertinent industry issues that cover various aspects of the sector.
The resolutions and key decisions adopted through the event, he said, must demonstrate tangible solutions through action rather than just discussing concepts.
The cocktail, sponsored by Stanbic Bank, which the minister appreciated, presented an opportunity for all to reflect on the progress they were making in the financial inclusion space.
He said financial inclusion was a catalyst for achieving many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it meant individuals and businesses had access to affordable financial products and services that met their needs, which were delivered in a responsible and sustainable way.
“While we encourage capital accumulation to promote financial stability, we cannot overlook the clearly evident vulnerability of people and businesses to climate change and natural disasters.
It is therefore imperative to build resilience with financial and banking products that can enable recovery from environmental shocks,” he said.
That, Mr Mohwasa highlighted, resonated well with government’s mandate driven by his ministry to also facilitate national strategic emergency coordination, coordinating National Transformation Strategy and overseeing government projects and programmes among other key areas.
He, however corroborated Stanbic Bank dedication in providing essential aid and alleviating human distress during the devastating floods experienced recently, adding that the financial institution joined flood relief efforts by contributing P2 million to the Private Sector Disaster Response Fund (PSDRF) to serve over 5 000 vulnerable community members.
In addition, Mr Mohwasa said, the bank had been also recognised as Botswana’s best bank for environment, social and governance (ESG) by Euromoney at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024.
He said the accolades was an acknowledgement that as communities evolved, the banking sector must also ensure that their growth strategies promoted equitable opportunities for all and address systematic inequalities.
Stanbic Bank chief executive officer, Mr Chose Modise said the bank was open for stakeholder collaboration, which he said was critical for all to ensure sustainable tourism practices.
Appreciating the excellent service in the tourism industry, Mr Modise stated that tourism could be the country’s new diamond.
“We have something special and it is entirely upon us, how big we want to grow it and as we explore the conditions, the value and benefit of tourism plays a crucial role in the country’s economic stability, cultural preservation and environmental conservation.
While maximising the benefits, it is important to mitigate the challenges,” he said, empahising that it was essential for all stakeholders including government, local authorities, banking sector and tourism industry, its partners and providers to collaborate on sustainable policies.
Mr Modise said the future of tourism in the country lay in balancing the economic growth, social responsibility and environmental strategies.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
