Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana’s ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement instruments with African Union Commission was timely and a step towards exploring a wider market base for local manufacturers.
This was said by the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) chief executive officer, Ms Mmantlha Sankoloba during the Local Manufacturing Summit in Gaborone on August 1.
Botswana deposited her instruments during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on February 19, becoming the 45th AU member to ratify the AfCFTA.
Ms Sankoloba said the ratification of AfCFTA instruments was set to boost Botswana’s economic growth as it brought a glimmer of hope to the manufacturing industry through the creation of a single continental market for goods and services.
She noted that the AfCFTA provided huge opportunities for development in the areas of industry, infrastructure and market liberalisation, while also providing an avenue for the flourishing of trade in services.
With over 450 local manufacturers and exporters under their membership data base, Ms Sankoloba said it was of importance for the private sector to fully position itself in order to benefit from the forthcoming opportunities.
Ms Sankoloba said the local manufacturing industry contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth, thus the sector would strive to continue on its employment creation drive and unlocking all value chains in the manufacturing sector to diversify the export basket.
She said it was through President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s visionary leadership that the country had been instrumental in shaping the future of the local manufacturing industry.
“BEMA highly appreciates the Reset Agenda and Mindset Change initiatives which envisions citizen inclusive economic growth and an effective Botswana with proper working infrastructure and a conducive, enabling environment for the private sector to strive,” she said.
She said the embracement of Mindset Change initiative would enhance public sector reforms and accelerate economic diversification as well as promote private sector and human capital development.
The adoption of both the Reset Agenda and the Mindset Change, she said, would enable the country to fully attain Vision 2036 pillars and springboard it to a high income economy.
Ms Sankoloba said the launch of the Mindset Change campaign was already yielding positive results in the manufacturing industry as companies had illustrated a more innovative response on daily operations, which translated to higher productivity.
To that effect, Ms Sankoloba indicated that it was important for government to avail and facilitate funding for Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
“SMMEs are always challenged to access funding, thus we urge government to establish a fund that would solely be mandated to facilitate SMMEs in the manufacturing space,” she said.
Additionally, she said government should also focus on the promotion and resourcing of innovation centres, as they were critical to the enhancement of the manufacturing sector.
Ms Sankoloba further called for an improved digital connectivity of local manufacturers with their global counterparts, saying that would unlock business opportunities for local manufacturers and exporters.
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