The Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) has engaged the services of Senior Experten Service (SES) from Germany to assist with the training of local manufacturing companies under BEDIA’s Export Development Programme.
BEDIA Deputy Director, Public Relations and Communication, Kungo Lentswe, told Sunday Standard that the company led by Senior Expert, Manfred Reinhackel, arrived in Botswana on Monday and has already started the programme around the country.
The training programme is expected to run until 11th March 2011.
Lentswe said that the Export Development Programe is a project by BEDIA designed to assist in developing international market entry strategies that identify the objectives, resources or policies that will in turn assist participating companies develop their sustainable international business focus.
“We are pleased to have acquired this kind of expertise to come and groom our local business companies in the leather and leather products sector. BEDIA strives for growth of Botswana companies and its steps such as these that will see our own local products making it big in the international markets,” said Lentswe.
She stated that SES offers interested retirees the opportunity to pass on their skills and knowledge to others, both within Germany and abroad. They work in a voluntary capacity as Senior Experts, helping to train both specialist workers and management staff.
SES has been engaged to conduct training at Leather Products Botswana in Pilane and Kings Leather Works in Letlhakane respectively, working alongside BEDIA’s Department of Export Enterprise Development.
As a first in Botswana, SES is expected to assist with addressing identified gaps and to provide training to narrow disparities, as well as advise on solving technical and organisational problems outlined through Company requests in the fields of Leather and Leather products; Meat and Meat Products; Chemicals and Furniture.
Some of these sectors are of primary, but not exclusive focus and are in line with the implementation of the National Export Strategy.
The Department of Industrial Affairs Director, Violet Mosele, said it is a bold step that BEDIA took to assist local manufacturing companies.
She stated that there have been complaints about unskilled manufacturers and trainers on the ground.
“I think it a good way of closing the gap in the manufacturing industry and it is part of diversification of the economy,” said Mosele.
She said it is important for companies to use specialist knowledge to take their business to upper levels for profit making.
