The agency tasked with attracting investors to BotswanaÔÇö-BEDIA said on Monday it was mulling over making enquiries about advertising opportunities on DSTV during 2010 FIFA World Cup slated for South Africa in less than 45 days.
The agency’s Chief Executive Officer Jacob Nkate revealed that BEDIA had already appointed an Agency to work with them on how best to deal with advertising during the world cup period.
The plan is to meet with investors before, during and after the world cup.
With only a few weeks left before the world Cup in South Africa, Botswana has not been able to attract any soccer teams to camp and train in its stadiums during the period even though it initially had plans to use the tournament to boost its economy.
However, in its endevours, BEDIA is not working with the appointed 2010 Task force to promote Botswana during the world cup because they both had separate interests.
The Task force was established to attract foreign teams to camp in Botswana and to promote Botswana Tourism. So far they haven’t been able to meet the set targets.
BEDIA on the other hand was expected to promote investment in export-oriented activities which will result in economic diversification. They saw the world cup as a chance to attract more potential investors.
“We are keen on working with investors from around the world, it has been a belief that BEDIA tends to only look outward but the truth is we do work with local investors, “said Nkate.
The CEO of BEDIA which recently fully assumed the mandate of Botswana Brand also revealed that he commended government’s decision to improve the functioning, efficiency and policy co-ordination of national investment promotion and export development activities.
He said that a task force commenced work in March 2010 to manage and implement the change process which is expected to be completed within 2010.
“I can not speak for everyone else but I can honestly say I am impressed with the progress we are making so far. With representation from Botswana IFSC, PEEPA,Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Trade and Industry which is overseeing and coordinating the process, how can we go wrong?, “said Nkate.
Nkate revealed that this year’s global exposition is scheduled for 17-20th of November 2010, at Gaborone International Fairgrounds. The sectors to be promoted are multi sectoral including leather products, energy, agro-processing and machinery amongst others.
He however revealed that Global expo 2009 managed to attract 160 exhibitors against a target of 250 exhibitors. It also managed to attract 4709 visitors against a target of 6000 visitors.
In total they managed to generate P48.6 million orders generated against a target of 60 million resulting in a shortfall of 11.4 million.
“I believe that we should strive to meet the targets we set, because they present much needed challenges if we intend to improve, “said Nkate.
