Due to Botswana’s small domestic Market, export lead industries are encouraged, and foreign investors and exporters should look to market products throughout Southern Africa, for which Botswana presents a strategic location. The Government of Botswana actively encourages joint venture arrangements between citizen entrepreneurs and foreign investors.
Key Sectors in which investment opportunities exist include:
Information Communications Technology
This includes Information based services, web hosting, data centers, call centers, software research and development with Botswana being promoted as a regional ICT Hub. The country is well connected via the earth satellite station through Intelsat and the ISDN network, which links Botswana to Europe and the USA. Projects aiming to link Botswana to the rest of the world through undersea fiber-optic cables on the east and west coasts of Africa should be completed by 2008.
Financial Services
The Botswana Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gaborone offers a tax incentive of 15% corporate tax for investment banking, funds management, business processes outsourcing, insurance businesses, willing to set up in Gaborone but providing services in foreign currencies for non- residents or related companies which are part of their group operations and resident in Botswana.
Tourism
The country offers underdeveloped potential in eco-tourism, which encompasses cultural, historical and archaeological attractions as well as recreational tourism, in addition to Botswana’s wildlife product. There is also scope for investment in the hotels and restaurants sector.
Textiles and apparel manufacturing
There has been a huge growth in exports of Botswana’s textiles and clothing to the USA, supported by the favorable trade terms of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act.
Printing and Publishing
With some of the countries’ top companies doing their high- end printing outside Botswana, there is a need for high-end printing investors locally.
Minerals
The diamond manufacturing industry is set to expand substantially with the aggregation of diamonds being relocated from London to Gaborone and a new state of the art diamond technology park being built. Downstream opportunities exist in jewellery production, cutting and polishing of diamonds and semi-precious stones. There are also investment opportunities in mining equipment and services, construction, consulting and engineering.
Energy
The Morupule Power Plant expansion and proposed Mmamabula Export Power Station projects aim to enhance energy generation, while solar energy equipment and natural gas reserve discovery are also under the spotlight.
Healthcare
With a large part of Botswana’s health care budget currently spent on importing drugs and medication, the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products for import substitution is another opportunity for investment, as is the provision of medical services and manufacturing of medical and surgical equipment.
Leather Products
A modern tannery has been established to promote the utilization of leather from the local market and formalize leather collection and trading.
Glass products
The mining of Soda Ash, an important component in the manufacturing of glass and glass related products, is undertaken in Botswana, and a study is being undertaken by BEDIA on developing the glass manufacturing industry further.
Ceramics and sanitary ware items Automobile industry
Assembly of cars and production of parts and components
Electrical goods TV Sets, telephones, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Business 
