The 2010 Junior Chamber International (JCI) World President, Roland Kwemain, visited Botswana from the 6th to 9th March on his worldwide campaign to promote JCI.
During his visit, Kwemain met stakeholders to promote JCI Botswana’s bid for the 2012 JCI Africa and Middle East Conference, an annual conference that boasts over 1000 professionals from over 38 African and Middle East countries.
This year’s conference will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, and will be chaired by JCI Executive Vice President, Joseph Pheto, from JCI Botswana chapter.
The world president told Sunday Standard that he had a very successful working visit to Botswana. During his visit, he met with the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcus Makgatho Malesu, and other important stakeholders from various ministries and companies, like the Local Enterprise Authority.
“We are leaving the country with high hopes and high motivation because JCI Botswana will be in the spotlight. As JCI Botswana Chapter’s Executive Vice President, Joseph Pheto will be chairing the Africa and Middle East conference in Abuja. We are also happy that JCI Botswana will be bidding for the 2012 area conference,” Kwemain said.
He also said that, during his tenure, he wishes to increase the JCI membership by 15% worldwide, which he said can be achieved by inviting more young people to be part of JCI.
Kwemain said that he wishes to see JCI being repositioned through marketing and advertising. He said that exposing JCI to the media will put them in a better position to attract more people to the organization.
JCI, he said, has raised US $ 500 000 which they will use to address Malaria in Africa, in conjunction with the United Nations.
Kwemain appealed to the African media to desist from the western media’s practice of desecrating Africa, but rather showcase an “Africa that is winning”.
The 2010 JCI Botswana National President, Malaki Kereeditse, said that JCI is working on ways to expose its products and services to Batswana. He said that JCI encourages capacity building and community training.
Kwemain is the first African to be elected JCI world president in over 64 years. He was elected at the 64th World Congress held in Hammamet, Tunisia, in November 2009.
