To be published on


The Republic of Botswana is one of Africa’s most stable and competitive environments.

In order to achieve “Vision 2016”, the government will have to face many challenges, amongst others, the fight against HIV/AIDS, sustained economic diversification and growth, employment creation, poverty reduction and improvement of productivity levels in both the public and the private sector.

The country is committed to attracting direct foreign investment with a view to facilitating growth and diversifying the economy. In this context the government has undertaken many initiatives such as the adoption of a Competition Policy, the formulation of a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Strategy and FDI Law.

There is a wide range of investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, most of which promises good returns on capital.

Based on interviews with members of the government and top businesspeople of the Republic of Botswana both local and foreign. This report will be an investors guide, stressing the opportunities presented in the country.

The following are some of the areas that will be covered:



GOVERNMENT

* Vision 2016: In the direction of a semi-industrialised state.



TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

* Botswana as a Hub for the Southern Africa.
* Road construction projects: Dual carriageway road and road-over-rail bridge (Nelson Mandela drive), Tsabong-Middlepits, Middlepits-Bokspits and Mahalapye-Kalamare.



MINES AND ENERGY

* An enormous potential for new mineral discoveries.
* Diversification and investment in mineral development into non-diamond minerals.
* A Mines and Minerals Act which encourages mineral exploration.



TOURISM

* New tourism attractions: development of cultural, historical and archaeological tourism.

AGRICULTURE

* A sector playing an important role in poverty and hunger eradication as well as in building a prosperous and productive nation.
* Implementation of the National Mater Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAM-PAADD), which aims both traditional and commercial farming sub-sectors through the upgrading of technologies and management levels.
* Investment opportunities in horticultural production, forestry, bee keeping, bush products and game farming.