The Hague (The Netherlands), 13th December 2022: The Embassy in collaboration with the Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC) hosted an in-person Botswana Investment and Trade Promotion Conference in The Hague, Netherlands. Officials from the following Botswana investment promotion organisations were invited to make presentations on the business climate and opportunities in Botswana: Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA), and Botswana Development Corporation (BDC). Mr. Moemedi MOKGOSI, Director of International Business at BITC – London Office, participated in the event in person while Mr. Jayson SECHELE, Director of Policy and Planning, and, Ms. Agodirwe Mapoka, Senior Corporate Affairs Officer participated virtually. Ms. Rosmarijn Fens, Managing Director of the NABC gave welcome remarks.
When officially opening the Conference, Ms. Tebatso Future Baleseng, Charge d’Affaires, welcomed the guests from the Netherlands private sector, whose presence is essential to the Botswana and Netherlands partnership, and provided a synopsis of the trade and investment climate in Botswana. She raised concerns about the lack of growth and diversification of Botswana exports to the Netherlands market and the lack of Dutch foreign direct investment in Botswana since the entry into force of the EU-SADC EPA in 2016. She called on the Dutch companies to help diversify Botswana’s exports of goods and services and establish a direct trade and economic link that could open new and untapped business opportunities to Botswana and Dutch traders and investors.
The event was held to attract more investors from the Netherlands and the European Union in the agriculture, pharmaceuticals sectors, and other sectors of strategic importance and facilitate networking between experts, potential investors, the Botswana private sector, and Government. The secondary objective is to create a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences on import and export procedures and market opportunities between Botswana and the Netherlands. About 30 Dutch companies from the agriculture, renewable energy, banking, legal, and consultancy sectors participated in the event.
