Africa-Press – Botswana. Bank Gaborone has made a significant contribution to the Ghanzi Show by donating a multipurpose hall valued over P600,000. This facility will serve as a venue for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) to showcase their products and host business forums.
President Advocate Duma Boko officially inaugurated the hall during the Ghanzi Show on Saturday. The donation reflects Bank Gaborone’s commitment to SME development and aligns with government’s priority to diversify the economy through entrepreneurship.
In an interview, Mr Khalala Mokefane, Head of Wholesale Banking at Bank Gaborone, said that the facility was a strategic investment highlighting the bank’s strong belief in agriculture as a transformative sector vital for sustainable livelihoods, economic diversification, and food security.
He stated that the facility would act as a year-round hub for SMEs, farmers, and youth entrepreneurs, providing a space for product showcasing, business activities, and community resilience-building. The investment reinforced the bank’s focus on empowering local entrepreneurs and enhancing the agricultural sector, which was crucial to the nation’s economy, said Mr Mokefane.
“The facility is designed to foster innovation, business growth, and sustainable livelihoods, in alignment with Botswana’s vision for inclusive economic transformation,” he added.
Mr Mokefane stressed that it served as a platform for farmers, youth, and small business owners to connect, trade, grow, and belong.Since establishing its branch in Ghanzi in 2010, Bank Gaborone impacted the district, particularly in livestock financing, holding over 67 per cent of the formal market share in agricultural lending in Botswana, with a loan portfolio exceeding P704 million as of March 2025.
In addition to the hall, Bank Gaborone continued its tradition of supporting the Ghanzi Show for 14 years by sponsoring trophies and prizes in recognition of excellence in animal husbandry. The bank also took the opportunity to educate farmers on its specialised agri-financing and risk management solutions, including Livestock Insurance, Crop Insurance, and Agri-Personal Cover, launched in 2024.
Bank Gaborone’s approach covers the entire agricultural value chain from production to processing, logistics, and digital solutions. Services such as Easy2Pay enable informal traders and SMEs to transact securely, improving cash flow visibility and facilitating access to future credit.
The theme for this year’s show: Sowing Seeds of Innovation for Agricultural Transformation, aligns with the bank’s mission to connect communities to positive changes. However, Mr Mokefane expressed that farming was not a fall-back business, but a promising future enterprise. He added that the Ghanzi Agricultural Show was a key platform for collaboration among farmers, policymakers, and business leaders across Southern Africa, aimed at innovation and shaping the future of agriculture.
“Bank Gaborone plans to continue investing in climate-resilient farming, green energy financing, and youth-focused agri-entrepreneurship to support Botswana’s goals of food security, job creation, and economic transformation.”
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