The Local Manufacturing Summit 2024, set to convene on the 6th and 7th of August, aims to forge a platform to discuss the future trajectory of Botswana’s manufacturing sector, emerging technologies, market access both locally and internationally, and other pivotal issues. This event marks the summit's second return, underscoring its growing significance.
At the Local Manufacturing Summit 2024 Press Conference held on Tuesday, Joseph Ramotshabi, Senior Projects Manager at the Botswana Chamber of Mines, recounted the origins of the local manufacturing initiative, which dates back to 2016.
"We sought to complement government efforts in job creation, economic diversification, and citizen empowerment, with the aim of integrating more Batswana into the mining industry," Ramotshabi explained. "Additionally, we encouraged citizens to venture into manufacturing products that are currently imported from foreign companies, as well as into various professional services, all of which contribute to reducing the import bill."
Ramotshabi highlighted a significant milestone achieved through their partnership with Debswana in 2019. "Debswana sponsored the local manufacturing stream managed by the Botswana Chamber of Mines.
𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗨𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗕𝗢𝗧𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗔 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧
Furthermore, within the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP), initiated by Debswana, we have adopted various roles—ranging from repairs to professional services—all aimed at diversifying our economy," revealed Ramotshabi.
Looking ahead, Ramotshabi articulated Botswana’s ambition to attain high-income status by 2036. "To realize this vision, the economy must grow at an annual average rate of 6% over the next 13 years. The manufacturing sector, which accounted for a mere 5.7% of GDP in 2020, holds substantial potential to drive this economic growth," he asserted.
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