The Botswana Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) has signed a Reciprocal Membership Agreement (RMA) with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England (ICAEW).
The agreement, which was signed on November 11th, will enable dual membership of both bodies, which will give them access to greater support and boost their international presence and expertise. ICAEW and BICA have been working together since 2009 to strengthen the accounting profession in Botswana. The RMA was signed by ICAEW President Andrew Ratcliffe and BICA President Frederik Els at the start of a meeting of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). The event was hosted by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) in Singapore. The agreement is viewed as a milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two organizations and is expected to give a further boost to the accountancy profession in southern Africa and its impact on the continent’s growing economy.
“BICA is determined to deliver the highest professional, technical and ethical standards to ensure that Botswana’s accountancy profession plays a central role in supporting the country’s economic development. This is why we were keen to become chartered accountants, recognized worldwide for denoting excellence and integrity. We are proud to be partnering with ICAEW, which has been safeguarding and supporting the development of chartered accountancy since 1880. This agreement will see our two bodies working hand in hand to support the accountancy and finance profession in Botswana and the region,” says Frederik Els.
