Botswana exporters, manufacturers association intensifies efforts to promote growth of small business
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) – The Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) is working towards ramping up the growth of small business, an official told PANA here Monday.
Rockie Gagoangwe Mmutle, president of BEMA, said his organization, together with its development partners, was working to improve the growth of small businesses.
“We want to position BEMA as the prime benchmark Business Membership Organization (BMO) in both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African continent,” Mmutle said.
BEMA, he said, would also push for the design of programs that were suited to the needs of export and manufacturing employees “to take advantage of the programmes at hand”.
It also intends to increase regional and international outreach to target business leaders to become the prime business advocacy organization in Botswana.
The president of BEMA said his organization had identified targeted strategies to reach decision makers, business leaders, entrepreneurs and innovative startup companies that they would be able to provide profiles to its international partners.
Mmutle said BEMA also aimed to increase employment opportunities for citizens, more especially the youth.
“At BEMA, we are all about small business growth, export growth and service delivery improvement. We are proud to commit ourselves to so much more as our efforts give our members, youth, women and small businesses much needed and much deserved visibility,” he stated.
Mmantlha Sankoloba, chief executive officer, said BEMA aimed to develop the network and tools in assisting businesses in various areas to grow.
She added with that they were aiming at having more than 100 businesses and organizations to participate in their annual events.
“We acknowledge that there is more work to be done and look forward to the business community continuing to expand the economic footprint of Botswana, embracing opportunities that come with the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“BEMA’s mission of business attraction and expansion will be accomplished through our main business initiatives, including Business Development, Innovation Stations’ Business Accelarator, International Development, Workforce Services, and marketing/communications,” Sankoloba said.
-0- PANA MS/RA 11Mar2019
