Botswana continues to face slow economic growth, says Business Botswana
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswana continues to face slow economic growth, according to Gobusamang Keebine, President of Business Botswana.
The slow economic growth of the southern African country has led to continued high unemployment levels of the youth and fiscal challenges leading to an economic slowdown, hence the need to speed up the implementation of the 'Doing Business Reforms', he explained.
Keebine was speaking on Wednesday at Business Botswana’s annually general meeting in the capital, Gaborone.
Business Botswana is a business association of employers in all sectors of the Botswana economy in an advocacy capacity. The organisation was formed in 1971 and registered under the Trade Unions and Employers’ Act No. 23 of 1983.
In a consecutive year, Botswana’s ranking on the Doing Business index slipped from 71 position in 2017 to 81 in 2018, Keebine noted, adding that employers have pledged to work with the Government to strengthen strategic partnership in improving Botswana’s business climate.
The year under review saw the changes as we witnessed the inauguration of the new President, Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi whom we paid a courtesy call and
He said a number of decisions were made and the Government has assured Business Botswana of their support and willingness for an inclusive private sector.
According to Keebine, Business Botswana will continue to influence laws and regulatory reforms, facilitating public-private dialogue, ensuring effective platforms for business engagements, influencing development of adequate and relevant national human capital development and encouraging adherence to good governance to fight corruption.
“Through Business Botswana dialogue with the government, we have also been encouraging private sector to take a more active role in supporting economic diversification drive, deciding strategies to participate in cross border trade and avoid being over dependent on government tenders and to formulate solutions to propel Botswana’s economy to higher strides,” he said.
Business Botswana has signed several Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with partners like Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (NAFCOC) North West Province in South Africa.
-0- PANA MS/AR 25Sept2019
