THE Gaborone-registered Imara financial services group announced last week that its Imara African Opportunities Fund has been registered by Botswana’s financial service regulators and can now be marketed to institutions and professional investors within Botswana.
The fund was established more than a year ago and holds equities from numerous markets across Africa, including Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. Primary marketing focus to date has fallen on sophisticated investors in Europe.
Imara Asset Management Botswana Head, Maleho Mothibatsela, commented: “Botswana pension funds will now become a focus area for the fund’s marketing effort. Our fund often attracts European private and institutional investment to Africa.
“Within Africa we sense growing sentiment ÔÇô specifically in stable, growth-oriented jurisdictions such as Botswana ÔÇô that it is time for Africans to demonstrate their faith in the future and in the progress being achieved by the reform-minded, high-potential economies of Africa.
“The Imara African Opportunities Fund is the ideal vehicle for participation in the strong investment upside we have seen this last year in several African markets.
We’re delighted that the registration has been granted and we have a chance to introduce Botswana institutions to the exciting investment potential across this continent of ours.