AUGUST 2004
ISSUE No. 1
FORGING NEW BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
President Gets BEDIA I N S I D E
Briefing
President Festus Mogae on a conducted tour of BEDIA with Minister Nkate and
BEDIA Chairman, Mr. Corea
President Festus Mogae and the
Minister of Trade and Industry,
Jacob Nkate, have visited BEDIA
for a thorough briefing on the
organisation’s activities and its
future plans. They were met by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Uttum Corea, members of the Board,
management and staff.
The Chief Executive Officer,
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba,
explained that since its establishment
BEDIA had attracted 18 foreign
companies that have set up
operations in Botswana, investing a
total of P78 million and creating 3
766 jobs. She noted that although
this was below the target of 5 000
jobs, there are projects in the pipeline
that should see this number increase
significantly in the near future.
N E W S L E T T E R
Private sector takes the lead in
BEDIA governance
PAGE TWO
BEDIA opens London office
PAGE THREE
Closer business links with
Mozambique and Angola
More factory space going up
to attract manufacturers
PAGE FOUR
EU Business agency chooses
Botswana as its regional
headquarters
PAGE FIVE
Approved Investors Exempted
The Chief Executive outlined BEDIA’s From Work Permits
strategy shift, to focus in future on
selling opportunities rather than
promoting Botswana’s investment
Are textiles and garments
climate. It will also target investors
specifically, as opposed to countries
viable in Botswana?
in general. She said there were major PAGE SIX
challenges ahead, but with concerted
support from all stakeholders the Business opportunities
challenges would be met and BEDIA PAGE SEVEN
would continue to achieve positive
results. Coming events
BEDIA external offices
“...BEDIA had attracted 18 PAGE EIGHT
foreign companies that
have set up operations in
Botswana, investing a total
of P78 million and creating
3 766 jobs”
PAGE • ONE
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T 2 0 0 4

Private sector takes the lead in BEDIA governance

BEDIA is a wholly Government funded
parastatal, but since inception it has
encouraged private sector participation
in its affairs. Private sector members are
in the majority on the Board of Directors
and play a prominent role in the running
and operations of the organisation. The
Board is chaired by Uttum Corea, a partner
in PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the Vice
Chairperson is Myra Sekgororoane, an
independent tourism consultant.
finance, strategy and planning. He is
actively involved in the advancement of
the accountancy profession, serving as a
member of the Botswana Institute of
Accountants Council and chairing its
Education and Training Committee. He is
also a Board member of the Botswana
Accountancy College and a Past President
of the Chartered Institute of Management
Accounts (Botswana).
economic policy and planning. She has
extensive experience, having held senior
positions in the Ministries of Finance and
Development Planning, Agriculture, Local
Government and Labour and Home
Affairs. She is a member of a number of
other boards and councils.

Uttum Corea – a chartered accountant, Tally Tshekiso – an economist and a Disikalala Gaseitsiwe - Director of
he has extensive Director and E c o n o m i c
experience in a shareholder of Affairs in the
wide variety of C a r a t e x Ministry of
assignments Botswana, a Finance and
including audit, k n i t w e a r Development
f i n a n c i a l company that Planning,
investigation, e x p o r t s responsible for
management exclusively to t h e
c o n s u l t a n c y, the United Employment
taxation and States and the and Manpower
investment incentives. He pioneered the European Union. He previously worked Planning section. He holds a Masters
establishment of PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Ministry of Finance and degree in Development Planning and has
tax division, specialising in investment Development Planning as an economist had experience through a variety of senior
incentives in Botswana. He is the Senior and for the Export Credit Insurance positions in the formulation of strategies
Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Company as Underwriting Manager and projects for national development
Botswana, and is a member of the before moving into private business. planning, as well as the coordination of
Governing Board of national development policies and
PricewaterhouseCoopers in Southern programmes.
Africa

Myra Sekgororoane - the newly Loago Raditedu – co-founder of the Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba - Chief
appointed Vice Exporters’ Executive Officer
Chairperson of Association of of BEDIA.
the BEDIA Botswana and Mmasekgoa
Board of Executive holds an MBA in
Directors. Her Director of its B u s i n e s s
professional Secretariat. He Administration
background is has represented and a Bachelors
in the hotel and Botswana in of Science
t o u r i s m t r a d e Degree. She has
industry, where negotiations extensive local
she has had extensive experience, both such as the Southern African Development and international and management
international and national, and has held Community (SADC) Trade Protocol, the experience in the promotion and
senior positions in the Botswana South Africa-EU Agreement, the African development of Botswana.
hospitality sector. She owns a hotel and Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the
tourism management services company Cotonou Agreement and the World Trade
and also carries out procurement services Organisation talks. He is a member of the
for the industry. She serves on a number SADC National Committee and the
of other boards. President’s High Level Consultative Private sector members
Council.
are in the majority on
Ta b a k e K o b e d i – a c h a r t e r e d Banny Molosiwa – Permanent Secretary the Board of Directors
management in the Ministry and play a prominent
accountant and of Trade and
a Finance Industry. She role in the running and
Manager at holds a Masters
Debswana Head degree in operations of the
Office. He has Development
extensive Economics,
organisation.
experience in specialising in

PAGE • TWO
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T
BEDIA opens doors in London
and business forum is a big success
Lameck Nthekela, BEDIA Regional
representative in London
BEDIA has opened an office
in Britain, based at the
Botswana High Commission
in London. The move is a
major development in its
outreach programme to
explore selected markets
for promoting inward
investment, as well as
identifying potential
market outlets for products
manufactured in Botswana.
Britain has long established
links with Botswana, and
many of the companies
that BEDIA is targeting for
export and investment
promotion are
headquartered in the United
Kingdom. The new office is accredited
to cover the greater European market.
BEDIA has
developed a multi-
purpose facility in
UK for further
promotional
activity.
2 0 0 4
As its first activity the BEDIA
Six Botswana companies,
London office hosted a Botswana
Business Forum that was a Nortex, Fascinating
resounding success. The Forum Botswana, FerroGrow,
was attended by officials of the
United Kingdom Trade and
Dinesh Textiles,
Investment Office, Botswana Leather Works
Commonwealth Business Council, and Botswanacraft
Southern African Business
Association, Manchester
Marketing,showcased
International Trade Centre, their products.
Confederation of British
Industries, SADC trade jeans to handicrafts from various areas in
representatives in London and Botswana. An Oxford based outlet bought
consumers, as well as UK- based all the handicrafts on show and is already
Invited guests at the Business Forum in London
buying agents from both the wholesale trading in quality craftwork from
and retail sectors who gave the Botswana. As a result of the event,
participating companies promising leads. negotiations are taking place with British
buyers who are interested in supplying
The Business Forum entailed workshops,
presentations on investment opportunities
in Botswana, doing business in Britain
and Botswana, as well as personal
discussions between business people from
the two countries.
A small display of Botswana products was
held at the same time. Six Botswana
One on one meetings between the
companies, Nortex, Fascinating Botswana,
business people
FerroGrow, Dinesh Textiles, Botswana
Leather Works and Botswanacraft
Marketing, took part. Products exhibited Botswana products to outlets in the UK
ranged from towels, knitwear, fertilizers, and other countries.
PAGE • THREE
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T
Closer business links with
Mozambique and Angola
Signing of memorandum of understanding with
the Angola Chamber of Commerce
The business communities of
Botswana, Mozambique and Angola
have been drawn closer together
with the signing by BEDIA of
memoranda of understanding with
the Mozambique Investment
Promotion Centre (CPI) and the
Angola Chamber of Commerce. The
signing took place at the BEDIA head
office in Gaborone and in Luanda
respectively.
The objective is to formalise relations
between BEDIA and the two
organisations, to systematically exchange
business information, help to organise
trade and investment missions and to
co-organise meetings and seminars in
both countries. CPI and the Angola
Chamber of Commerce are now the
points of contact for business people
wanting to do business in those
countries. Similarly, BEDIA becomes the
Botswana point of contact for
Mozambican and Angolan business
people, to facilitate appointments and
provide trade leads, and to issue business
invitation letters where needed.
Angola is undergoing major
reconstruction and development, and
many opportunities present themselves
in the area of infrastructure
development. There are opportunities
for Botswana companies in the fields of
engineering services, water reticulation,
power, telecommunications, refuse and
sanitation, as well as consumer and
capital goods, machinery,
vehicle and spare parts.
Angola’s traditional imports
are from South America and
Europe, but Botswana is well
positioned to compete and
become a significant
supplier of goods and
services to the developing
Angolan market.
Mozambique continues to
experience phenomenal
economic growth as it
undertakes massive
redevelopment of the country and its
infrastructure following the civil war.
Multinational corporations, mainly from
South Africa such as Anglo American,
BHP-Biliton, Murray and Roberts and
Sasol, are involved in various projects in
the country. In addition, many donor
countries and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) have been
channeling huge sums of money into
Mozambique. As a result of these
developments employment creation is
rising sharply, and with it the demand
for basic consumables, which the local
industry cannot meet. This opens up
excellent opportunities to Botswana to
export consumables to Mozambique and
to explore other business opportunities
in the country.
Contacts:
Angola Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
P.O. Box 92, Largo do Kinaaxixi, 14,1o
Andar
Luanda, Angola
Tel: +244 2 444506/526/451
Fax: +244 2 444629
Email: ccia@ebot.net
Mozambique Investment Promotion
Centre
Rua de Imprensa 332 R/C–C. Postal
4635
Tel: +258-1 313310/313375/313299
Fax: +258-1 313325
Email: mbila@cpi.co.mz
PAGE • FOUR
2 0 0 4
More factory
space going up
to attract
manufacturers
Making suitable property in preferred
urban centres readily available to
external companies is a vital part of
BEDIA’s efforts to attract foreign direct
investment to Botswana. To this end,
several factory shells have been
developed in Gaborone giving a total
floor space of over 25 000 square
metres, more than 90 percent of which
is occupied. The factory shells are used
by companies engaged in a range of
manufacturing activities, including
textiles, vehicle springs, industrial
cleaning chemicals, furniture products,
and electrical cabling and circuitry.
BEDIA is now building factory shells totaling
7 000 square metres in Mogoditshane, just
outside the city. The development comprises
ten units of 500 square metres each and
eight units of 250 square metres. The
scheme is designed to extend the benefits
of the factory shells by making smaller units
available to local entrepreneurs. The
Mogoditshane project is due to be
completed by September 2005.
BEDIA will continue to develop ways to
satisfy the needs of investors for premises
to conduct their business in Botswana. All
stakeholders will be made aware of the
importance of improving the overall level
of responsiveness to the requirements of
investors. Heightening this awareness will
contribute significantly to achieving BEDIA’s
vision of being a globally recognised and
leading trade and investment agency in
Southern Africa.
Potential investors are invited and
encouraged to forward enquiries relating
to property in Botswana to
morep@bedia.bw
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T 2 0 0 4

EUROPEAN UNION BUSINESS AGENCY CHOOSES

BOTSWANA AS REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS
In addition to direct assistance,
CDE provides consultancy
services with expert input in the
relevant spheres. CDE may also
allocate financial aid of up to
two-thirds of the total
assistance being sought.

Since CDE established its office

at BEDIA in Gaborone, ten
promoters have already
benefited from the direct
assistance programme. The
centre is also active in other
parts of SADC promoting
regional and country specific
projects.

Honourable Ministers and VIPs who attended the Launch

The Regional Field Office of the

Centre for the Development of
Enterprise (CDE) was officially CDE may also allocate financial aid
launched in May at BEDIA
headquarters in Gaborone. The office
acts as the antenna and services the
of up to two-thirds of the total
SADC region.
assistance being sought.
CDE is an institution established by the
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states
and the European Union within the covers project
framework of the Cotonou Agreement. definition,
It forms part of the general system of feasibility and
support created by the European market studies,
Commission to promote the private sector the search for
and so help to combat poverty. The CDE technologies
works in cooperation with other key and partners,
development players, particularly public financial
and private sector, multilateral, bilateral engineering,
and local institutions. Its financial assistance for
resources are derived mainly from the legal structuring
(left to right) Managing Director of CDE , Matos Rosa and Jorge Borges, CDE
European Development Fund, but also and project
Regional Field Officer with the CDE local team Dorothy Boakgomo, Assistant
from other European programmes or development, Regional Field Officer and Patrick Koboyatshwene, Regional Field Officer Assistant
from countries that may assign it quality and
appropriations or offer co-funding for its environmental
operations. studies. The Assistance Facility provides Contact:
long-term support to the operations of Regional Office for Centre for the
The CDE supports the process of designing the enterprise. This support applies to Development of Enterprise
projects and also assists investors who are start up and technical assistance, staff Attention: Mr Jorge Borges
looking for financial and technical training, diagnosis and audits, Private Bag 00148
partners. management and marketing assistance, Tel: +267 3191229
restructuring assistance, assistance for Fax: +267 3191271
The Development Facility is intended for p r o m o t i n g q u a l i t y, l a b e l i n g , Gaborone, Botswana
enterprise creation, extension and standardisation and environmental E-mail: jbo@cde.it
development. This form of assistance protection.

PAGE • FIVE
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T 2 0 0 4

Approved Investors Exempted

From Work Permits
Investors can now get work and residence permits upon
recommendation by BEDIA in a shorter period of time. After
assessment and clearance by the Ministry or BEDIA, investors
complete application forms for the Exemption Certificates, which
are issued to them within five days. This exemption is a result
of amendments made by the Minister of Labour and Home
Affairs to the Employment of Non-Citizens Act late last year.
Investors are therefore encouraged to make full use of the
services that are provided by the One-Stop service centre at
BEDIA. The facility ensures the processing and clearing of their
permits with minimal delays. This assistance is available to both
existing and prospective companies in the manufacturing and
services sectors.

Are Textiles and Garments viable

in Botswana?
sector should continue. The findings
suggested that promotion should be
continued, but that permanent
subsidisation of the sector should be
discouraged and emphasis placed on
attracting garment manufacturers.

The study recommended an emphasis on

developing the manufacture of higher
value-added products and the introduction
of a comprehensive programme of training
to improve skills. It also called for a cost
structure review to be carried out in order
to reduce input costs. BEDIA is working
with UNCTAD to implement the
recommendations, as we strongly believe
that this will benefit the country because
the sector continues to play an important
role in the development of the economy.

Garment factory employee cutting fabric.
The garment and textile sector has in the
past attracted companies from the Far
East and South Africa during the operation
of the Financial Assistance Policy (FAP)
scheme, which provided subsidised wages,
fixed assets and training costs for an initial
five-year period.
For more detailed information, investors
are encouraged to contact the BEDIA
Investment Promotion Department.
allows it to export to the European Union
markets quota and duty free. The industry
decline indicated
that it was failing
to cope with
challenging
circumstances.

Since the abolition of FAP there has been As a result, last

a steady decline in the industry’s fortunes, year BEDIA
despite it having privileged access to commissioned a
several markets. Botswana qualified to be study to
categorised among the Least Developed investigate the
Countries under the Africa Growth and competitiveness
Opportunities Act (AGOA), giving it and viability of
preferential treatment in sourcing raw the industry in
materials for duty-free and quota-free Botswana and to
export to the US market. In addition, determine
Botswana is a member of the ACP (African, w h e t h e r
Caribbean and Pacific) grouping, which promotion of the Garment factory production line

PAGE • SIX
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T 2 0 0 4

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
The State of Florida in the United States of America, through Enterprise Florida Inc. Southern Africa, is looking for
partners in the region for the following US-based companies:

Company Business Relationship Products/Services

Desired

Villa Marques Joint Venture Looking for a furniture

manufacturer to produce outdoor

furniture

Virtupass Joint Venture Looking to partner with online

security firms.

I-am Solutions Joint Venture Looking for collaborations for

Web-based technologies for

managing large entities

Trans Ocean Holdings Joint Venture Opportunities in agriculture,

mining and downstream industries

Macknificent Imports Galleria, Inc Exporters Looking to buy African ceramic

dolls and other unique crafts/items

Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Exporters Looking for suppliers of AGOA

related textiles, processed

agriculture products

Latin Chamber of Commerce Exporters Looking for manufacturers and

exporters interested in Latin

America.

Contact:
Tongila Manly, Managing Director, Enterprise Florida, P.O. Box 2557, Cramerview 2060, South Africa
T +27-82-560-8001, F +27-11-476-6740,

Email: EnterFlorida@TheManlyGroup.com
www.eflorida.com

PAGE • SEVEN
 B E D I A N E W S L E T T E R • A U G U S T 2 0 0 4

BEDIA EXTERNAL OFFICES

The business community is encouraged to
contact BEDIA’s external offices in the
Republic of South Africa and the United
Kingdom for full information about those
markets.
Johannesburg
Mr. Brian Mosenene
Regional Representative
3rd Floor Standard Bank Centre, East
Entrance
11 Alice Lane
P.O. Box 781371
Sandton 2146
Republic of South Africa
Tel: +27 (011) 884 8959
Fax: +27 (011) 883 7798
Email:Moseneneb@bedia.bw
Website: www.bedia.co.bw of this joint promotion, a number of Indian
entrepreneurs have successfully set up in
London Botswana either on their own or in
Mr. Lameck Nthekela partnership with Batswana investors.
Regional Representative
6 Stratford Place India
London W1C 1AY Dr. Juneja
England India Representative Office
United Kingdom Global Projects and Services (P) LTD
Tel: ( +44) 207 499 0031 707-708 Ansal Chambers-II
Fax: (+44) 207 495 8595 6 Bhikaji Cama Place
Email: bedia@bedia.bw New Delhi 110066
Website: www.bedia.co.bw India
Tel: (011)261 70146, 261 78443
BEDIA has also made an arrangement with Fax: (011)261 72457
Global Projects, a company based in New
Delhi, to promote Botswana as a viable Email:gpsjsj@del6.vsnl.net.in
location for Indian investment. As a result Website:www.globalprojectsandservices.com

UPCOMING EVENTS
Outward business promotion opportunities

• Textile and Apparel, AGOA Exhibition USA August 2004

• Meet in Africa, Leather Exhibition Addis Ababa, Ethiopia August 2004

• Automotive Component Forum, Zurich, Switzerland September 2004

• Investment promotion mission Durban and Cape Town September 2004

• Export promotion mission Mozambique October 2004

• Handicrafts show, Sector specific Exhibition USA October 2004

• Swisstech 2004, Suppliers Only Fair Basel, Switzerland November, 2004

Inward business promotion missions to Botswana:

• Botswana International Trade Fair in Gaborone August 2004

• Malaysia August 2004

• Republic of South Africa October 2004

• United States of America November 2004

If you have interest in specific markets please call Malebogo Morakaladi at BEDIA to discuss further.

PUBLISHED QUARTELY BY THE BOTSWANA EXPORT DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENT AUTHORITY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT BEDIA ON TELEPHONE +267 3181 931, FAX +267 3181 941
or email: bedia@bedia.bw or visit www.bedia.co.bw
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS FCB

PAGE • EIGHT