The newly launched Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) intends to transform the energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.
This was disclosed by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko yesterday when y outlining a bold vision for Botswana’s economic future, emphasising sweeping reforms aimed at transforming the country’s mining, energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors.
Speaking at the Botswana (BETP) Labs in Gaborone, President Boko underscored the importance of combining innovative ideas with decisive reforms to realise the country’s “True North” vision.
Highlighting the need to dismantle longstanding barriers, President Boko announced that cumbersome immigration and procurement procedures will be overhauled to facilitate smoother and faster investment flows. “Immigration and procurement barriers will cease,” he said, stressing that such reforms are essential to creating an enabling environment where innovation and business opportunities can thrive.
Boko further expressed concern over persistent challenges posed by complex customs procedures within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), noting that these hinder trade and increase costs between member countries. “We will modernize our laws and regulations so that investment moves in swiftly. Opportunities will open widely, and innovation will thrive. These reforms are not optional; they are the very foundation of the prosperous Botswana we seek,” he said.
Boko also noted that while the work done by the BETP Labs is remarkable, it marks only the beginning of a broader transformation. “The thoroughness of plans will not be judged, but the results will be measured,” he added, emphasising the government’s commitment to demonstrating tangible impacts such as job creation, attracting investment, and community upliftment.
He urged government officials to respond proactively to public concerns regarding economic progress, stating that the ultimate test of reform success lies in visible improvements in citizens’ lives.
As Botswana embarks on this ambitious economic transformation journey, stakeholders and citizens alike await the outcomes of these reforms, hoping for accelerated growth and sustainable development.
