Francistown – The First edition of the Francistown’s annual business exhibition is scheduled for the 23rd to 24th June at Cresta Marang, Francistown.
Themed,” Promoting SMME’s For Economic Development”, the Francistown business expo is organized and managed by the LBN and is a business-to-business exhibition which is multi-sectoral in focus.
The event’s Chairperson, Lawrence Ntsimanyana said the Expo is a platform that offers businesses in Francistown and outside areas to sell, build clientele and also to raise awareness about their products and services.
“The aim of the event is to reposition Francistown as the ultimate viable area in the country and offer exhibitors and visitors to actively promote their businesses and to stimulate inter-regional business exchange and also create platform where SMME’s, consumers and investors to converge in one place”, said Ntsimanyana.
In motivating entrepreneurs Ntsimanyana said that rebuilding the future has already begun and this year’s Francistown Business Expo is a time to rally together and support businesses and the community.
“We are challenging businesses and professionals to unite and think about the future of local business amid a global pandemic. After two years full of challenges, now is the time to show how we will come out on the other side of this. If not bigger, at least better; stronger; and proud to be a part of this community,” motivated Ntsimanyana.
He proposed that as an entrepreneur, one should take care of one’s business as one would take care of one’s body. That there are certain parts within that anatomy which are critical to survival and when ignored can lead to disaster. As business developers, he reasoned, it is their duty to ensure that they pay attention to those hidden parts, which can make or break their business: the brain, the nervous system, the heart and the immune system.
He said there will be platform for information sharing so as to accelerate access to market and funding, networking and collaboration; matchmaking platform for buyers and sellers; procurement databases, aimed at reduction of mortality rate of small businesses in the north.
Also, the expo is hoped to achieve among others, coming up with funding tactics for securing funding for entrepreneurs’ businesses, leveraging power of social innovation and agri-business opportunities in the north.
As a transformational approach, the expo is envisaged to stimulate a culture of entrepreneurship locally; equip SMME’s with investment capital and funding acquisitions; promote exports of locally produced goods, collaborate and network; sell and exchange products and services.
Ntsimanyana emphasized that,” Economic development and small business are the drivers of the economy by creating jobs, providing goods and services, and facilitating commerce.”
