Director of Investment Promotion at Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Moshie Ratsebe has urged citizen entrepreneurs to invest in renewable energy projects as the energy sector has proven to be one of the most lucrative and viable.
Speaking at a BITC stakeholder briefing session on Monday, Ratsebe said investors should take advantage of the fact that government has embraced the idea of public private partnerships in solar energy projects, particularly in areas that are not covered by the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) grid.
“Such businesses have growth potential in Maun and surrounding areas because of mining activities that may be far from power lines. You need to be innovative because you have a lot of heat in your area,” said Ratsebe.
He further said Botswana is endowed with a lot of mineral deposits, especially in the Ngamiland area, which has now been labeled Botswana’s copper belt. However, Ratsebe urged Batswana to also look beyond the extraction of minerals and explore other high impact investments that can create jobs.
“We should be able to attract international investors to settle in the country and venture into other businesses like agriculture, manufacturing, dairy farming, logistics, to mention but a few,” he said.
He added that attracting foreign investors will also boost other businesses like banks that will handle their finances as well as insurance companies that will offer such companies insurance cover. The education sector was also highlighted as one area that promises huge returns. Ratsebe said Botswana has over the years been able to position itself as an education hub as it allocated a big chunk of its budget to the education sector.
“As BITC we will ensure that we provide advocacy and timely and efficient interventions on behalf of investors,” said Ratsebe.
