BY PORTIA NKANI
The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency is reportedly undertaking a study on the country’s manufacturing sector.
The study, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry – Bogolo Kenewendo is expected to identify business opportunities within the sector to enable both potential and existing clients for maximum exploitation.
“The Study will delineate the state of the sector, including identification of key successes, challenges and opportunities for growth. The Study will explore niche Sectors and sub-sectors within the Manufacturing value chains based on Sectors that provide competitive and comparative advantage for firms.”
The CEDA study comes at a time when many African governments are trying to find their way through to reach markets within their own territories as well as globally.
As recent as February 2019 African countries signed the the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the 11th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Botswana included.
First launched in March 2018, AfCFTA is a single market for goods and services in Africa that aims to unlock manufacturing potential and facilitate industrialization, driving sustainable growth and jobs among other objectives.
Despite their manufacturing potential and promising trajectories, it has generally been observed that most African countries have remained relatively dearth of factories. This limited industrial development represents a missed opportunity for economic transformation and quality employment generation that alleviates poverty.
It is highly anticipated that AfCFTA Agreement will give Batswana the opportunity to benefit from inter-regional trade within the African continent, and greatly contribute to the growth and diversification of the country’s economy.
