Africa-Press – Botswana. Market support plays an important role in the success of SMMEs.
This was said by Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) branch manager in Maun, Mr Outwile Ebutswe during the Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC) national road show held at Maun Lodge yesterday. Mr Ebutswe also emphasised that market support was key to growth and development, indicating that LEA facilitated SMMEs to access market. He said that LEA had 140 business in their jurisdiction of which 34 were in manufacturing, 16 in agriculture, 55 in tourism and 35 are services, saying the projects enjoyed market support through the authority’s collaboration and partnership with companies such as Wilderness, Khoemacau, government, Sanfire and retail shops.
However, he acknowledged that some entrepreneurs were challenged to secure lucrative markets. Entrepreneurs at the road show called on government and the private sector to provide markets for their growth so that they could create employment opportunities.
In response to their concerns over establishment of factory shells countrywide to empower local business community as well as to promote investment and export opportunities , Mr Ebutswe said while he appreciated that lack of adequate operational space hindered SMMEs growth, government could identify land and consider partnering with the private sector to establish operational space to benefit entrepreneurs. In Maun, he said, LEA had factory shells at Boseja ward, which housed entrepreneurs under the authority and believed that government and the private sector could also identify their roles in that regard to help SMMEs overcome challenges related to infrastructure, enabling them to thrive and contribute to the economy.
SMMEs, he said, had proved to be at the pinnacle of diversifying the economies of developed countries including Botswana, noting that other countries recognised the informal sector as the engine of economic growth. Mr Ebutswe also noted that SMMEs were also a major source of employment, highlighting that currently, unemployment rate was at 34 per cent. In Maun, he said, they had created 4 363 jobs and generated revenue to the value of P188 million.
“As LEA, our mandate is to empower entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses and we believe that we can achieve this if we work together as stakeholders to support them. Our strategic intent is to create innovative, successful, sustainable and competitive SMMEs that can drive the national agenda of employment creation, economic diversification and promote value chains as well as increase their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he added.
Furthermore, he said through supporting SMMEs, they intended to reduce the import bill. He said currently SMMEs’ contribution to the GDP stood at 14.3 per cent, stating that it was achieved by leveraging partnerships and activating SMMEs ecosystem. Mr Ebutswe also appreciated that government recognised the SMMEs sector, which was dominated by informal sector hence the introduction of initiatives that would contribute positively towards SMMEs growth. He, however urged entrepreneurs to collaborate and establish networks to explore expansion opportunities. BITC head of export development and promotion, Mr Temo Ntapu highlighted that the roadshow is also aimed at taking BITC and other supporting institutions services to the business community.
“We have realised that entrepreneurs lack information on services and products provided by us and government institutions and we have brought all supporting institutions, producers and retailers, among others, to connect with local entrepreneurs,” he added.
Mr Ntapu said BITC is also promoting the PushaBW initiative, saying most of the time, people are not aware of products offered locally and end up buying products from across the border noting that some do not know the requirements to list with local retailers. Entrepreneurs were also apprised on the Global Expo Botswana 2025 and the upcoming Pula Investment Conference billed for October 8-11 in Gaborone and were advised to identify sound projects, which could be pitched at the Expo. Mr Ntapu said the Expo would attract international investors and funders, adding that it will provide a powerful platform for networking, deal making and showcasing services and products to a global audience.
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