Investec Asset Management Botswana said its decision to support conservation project in the tourism hub of Maun was a bid to show its commitment to the Botswana market.
Martinus Seboni, Managing Director of the asset manager, told Sunday Standard the move will add to the other Corporate Social Investment projects they support.
“As a significant entity in the corporate Botswana, it highlights the commitment we have to Botswana,” Seboni said.
This week, the company supported a charity in Maun as part of the predator conservation where about 250 children from the schools in the area participated.
The support was towards the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust (BPCT), which is the longest running conservation research project in Africa.
The trust sought support from Investec for the one day camp that preceded a bigger one in July that will include all Maun primary schools.
Managing assets of over P9 billion, the asset manager also supports education and owns The Business Place franchise in Gaborone and in the past, it supported University of Botswana Finance Society.
It conducts regular educational programmes for its clients so that they make better decisions, said Seboni.
The Business Place is the brainchild of Investec Asset Management and a collaboration of other local companies with the idea first mooted in 2004.
The centre is located at the Maraka House at the busy Gaborone Bus Station and is also a collaborative effort of other players, including Barloworld Botswana, Motor Centre Group, the University of Botswana (UB), the University of Botswana Foundation, Kgalagadi Beverages Trust, Department of Youth and Culture and CEDA.
The partners do not run the center, but contribute some funds towards the running of the place and, initially, it was capitalised by P1 million.
“We mentor (budding entrepreneurs) on how to run a successful entrepreneurship,” added Seboni.
“The business people who come to the center are the business for the future. There are wonderful stories from the center and government has been supportive,” he added.
