The Voice (Francistown)
Zeph Kajevu
20 May 2008
Francistown — In the current financial year, nearly P2 million will be spent on technical intervention assistance to enhance the export capacity of 15 local companies. This is according to Botswana Export Development & Investment Authority (BEDIA) chief executive officer, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu.
Makgato-Malesu said that BEDIA's P1.7 million vote for 2008 will go towards development and promotion of manufactured products destined for export and support services so that the country can compete effectively on the global export market.
She revealed that BEDIA also provides support for existing and new investors, which included sourcing land and acquisition of factory shell space.
"As the Government-funded Investment Authority, BEDIA lobbies for the improvement of the investment climate. So far we have achieved concrete milestones in creating an enabling investment climate. For instance, the registration of a new company takes a maximum of five days and 14 days for city and district councils, respectively. We would like to reduce the time, where it warrants," she said.
Makgato-Malesu said that since inception in its combined investments and expansion programmes, BEDIA had invested P692.27 million and created 9314 jobs.
"The investments and expansions had accounted for P357.77 million and P334.5 million, creating 6079 and 3235 jobs, respectively. The value of exports amounting to P134.2 million had increased Botswana's market access to the regional countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania including the United Kingdom.
"The combined new investments and expansions were P290 million and 1980 jobs broken down as P121 million and P169 million creating 955 and 1025 for the former and latter categories, respectively. The expected value of export earnings from the investment is P342 million."
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