… The minister added that government was committed to increasing agriculture’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from below two per cent to more than six per cent by 2036 through the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme and National Development Plan 12. …
… He said achieving that required a deliberate approach anchored in collaboration, coordination and clear responsibilities, a key principles of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, BETP. …
… He further says FPI’s grassroots efforts align seamlessly with the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), Africa Agenda 2063, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and national climate commitments. …
… He noted that government had recognised the creative economy as a pillar of economic transformation under Vision 2036, National Development Plan 12 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme. …
… The joint venture aligns tightly with the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which aims to reposition Botswana as a productive economy rich in export potential and less reliant on imports. …
The Bank of Botswana (BoB) has issued a stark warning: any postponements in rolling out the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) risk undermining the country’s fragile economic recovery and prolonging the growth challenges that have plagued the nation over the past t …
… Under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and the National Development Plan (NDP 12), the country aims to establish itself as a regional energy hub, strengthening its energy sector as a key economic driver with a focus on clean renewable power generation and exp …
… He further stated that the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) brought the role into sharp focus and as the national platform for execution, it served as the bridge between aspiration and achievement, bringing together government, business, investors, and citizens a …
A Texas-based private equity firm is investing roughly $150 million to build the TEMCO Hospital Ecosystem near Sir Seretse Khama International Airport—an integrated facility combining a 130-bed specialist hospital, medical hospitality wing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing plant on one site.
A Texas-based private equity firm is investing roughly $150 million to build the TEMCO Hospital Ecosystem near Sir Seretse Khama International Airport—an integrated facility combining a 130-bed specialist hospital, medical hospitality wing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing plant on one site.
The 2025 Agricultural Census found that the goat population increased 5.5 per cent and sheep population surged 33.3 per cent over the past decade, while the national cattle population dropped 6.1 per cent. The decline in cattle was driven by a 13.1 per cent plunge in traditional cattle holdings, offset partly by significant expansion in the commercial cattle subsector.
First National Bank Botswana and SPEDU have signed a partnership agreement to address financing gaps for industrial investment projects worth between 5.9 billion and 6.8 billion pula in the Selebi Phikwe region, testing whether Botswana's push toward private sector-led economic diversification can succeed.
The Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) has progressed from strategy to implementation within six months, achieving legislative reforms and land delivery for high-impact projects. The programme has identified 186 high-impact projects, 60 per cent of which are private-sector-led, and has resolved land-title issues through "land labs" to facilitate project delivery.
A Bank of Botswana survey shows businesses in Botswana expressing cautious optimism about trading conditions through June 2027, supported by government economic recovery initiatives, though the operating landscape remains challenging and companies faced concerns including high borrowing costs and constrained government spending in mid-2026.
Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe said Botswana is working to diversify its economy and reduce vulnerability to global fluctuations by attracting private investment and developing new industries, while addressing climate change and biodiversity loss as critical financial risks that affect production costs, asset values and investment.
Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe told the Bank of Botswana's golden anniversary celebrations that the Pula's strength over the next 50 years will depend on a diversified, inclusive economy. He noted that Botswana introduced its own currency 10 years after independence and withdrew from the Rand Monetary Area, marking an act of monetary sovereignty.
The African Development Bank's 2026 Country Focus Report calls on Botswana to strengthen economic diversification and unlock new development finance sources, citing shifting diamond revenues, productivity challenges, and a drop in domestic fiscal revenue from US$6.2 billion in 2021 to US$5 billion.
The Africa Development Bank's 2026 Botswana Country Focus Report highlights strengthening project preparation, domestic capital markets, public investment management, and private capital mobilisation as central to government reforms. Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe stressed the need for sharper emphasis on execution and institutional capacity to move viable projects toward financial growth and implementation.
The African Development Bank's 2026 Botswana Country Focus Report calls for stronger project preparation, deeper capital markets, and better public investment management. Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe said government is aligning with the ADB to deepen institutional capacity and mobilise capital for viable investments, emphasising the need for sharper execution to move projects from preparation to implementation.
The Botswana Prison Service recorded an agricultural harvest valued at P2,044,568 during the 2025/2026 cropping season, including 3,000 bags of maize, 368 bags of sorghum, 147 bags of beans, 36,110 kilogrammes of vegetables, 3,542 kilogrammes of citrus fruits, and 20,000 kilogrammes of mixed livestock feed. The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services said the harvest demonstrates how offender rehabilitation contributes to national food production and reduces government expenditure on prisoners' upkeep.
Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe has urged stakeholders in Mmadinare to build business ideas around local resources such as agricultural land, tourism attractions, and water resources, saying this could unlock opportunities and accelerate rural economic transformation. He called for collaboration between community members, local businesses, and government agencies to identify viable projects that add value locally rather than exporting raw materials.
Farmer's Pride International director Hunter Zadzagomo argues that moringa oleifera cultivation could position Botswana as Africa's premier production and export hub, offering a sustainable livelihood enterprise capable of creating income, employment, and rural industrialisation through local value addition.
Stakeholders called for stronger coordination among institutions supporting Botswana's creative industries during a CIPA-organised meeting, saying collaboration was key to unlocking the sector's economic potential. Government has recognised the creative economy as a pillar of economic transformation under Vision 2036, National Development Plan 12 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme.
The Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat will hold its inaugural Investment and Connectivity Golf Day in Jwaneng on September 12, aimed at promoting investment and regional collaboration through golf while highlighting opportunities in transport infrastructure, logistics, and mining value chains.
The Matopi Commercial Farmers Association and South Africa's Pinion have signed a Joint Venture Agreement to establish Matopinion Farming (Pty) Ltd, backed by projected investment exceeding P288 million and expected to create 183 direct jobs. The partnership is positioned as part of Botswana's economic diversification away from diamonds and toward agricultural modernization and export-oriented growth.
The Bank of Botswana has warned that postponements in rolling out the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme risk undermining the country's economic recovery and prolonging growth challenges from the past two years.
Shumba Energy Limited has begun construction on the Tati Solar project, a 100-megawatt facility near Francistown expected to supply electricity domestically and export energy across Southern Africa via the Southern African Power Pool, targeting commercial operation by 2027 with over P1 billion in investment.
The Botswana Insurance Company held its 4th Annual Thought Leadership Conference under the theme "From Resilience to Transformation." Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe commended BIC for creating a platform where financial and insurance institutions plan for the financial services industry's future and noted the importance of broadening Botswana's economic base beyond diamonds.
President Duma Boko presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Botswana World Trade Centre, a multi-billion Pula project designed to reduce diamond export dependence and establish the country as a regional trade and investment hub through services, tourism, and digital innovation.
Botswana's government plans to introduce a new Anti-Corruption Bill to Parliament in July and grant the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime full operational independence, according to the Minister for State President, Defence and Security. The reforms aim to bolster accountability, restore public trust, and elevate governance standards.
Botswana has launched the Botswana Youth, Women and Citizen (BYWC) Oil and Gas Programme to position citizens at the forefront of the country's emerging energy sector and reduce dependence on diamonds. The Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs said the initiative aims to equip young people, women and citizens with skills and opportunities for job creation and participation in wealth creation as the country prepares for economic diversification.
The Minister for State President, Defence and Security said national security and structural stability underpin sustainable economic activity and attract long-term investment. He cited the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme's focus on secure trade lanes, protected infrastructure, and regional stability through bilateral commissions with neighbouring countries.
Malebogo Dintwe, who grew up in Selebi Phikwe, initially aspired to work at a hotel front desk but enrolled at Gaborone Technical College in 2001 to pursue a Hospitality Operations course, where she gained competitive entry among nearly 1,000 applicants for 27 places. Between 2001 and 2004, she trained across hospitality's core pillars including cookery, eventually establishing herself as a respected chef commanding her own kitchen.
Botswana's Special Economic Zones Authority reports that 33 licensed companies have invested P23 billion in the country's SEZs, expected to generate around 9,000 jobs across manufacturing, e-commerce, petroleum, and mineral beneficiation. The Sir Seretse Khama International Airport SEZ alone hosts eight licensed companies, has attracted over P3 billion in investment, and is positioned to create approximately 1,500 jobs.
The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, partnering with UNICEF Botswana, held an online mass validation exercise to present revised models for the Youth Development Fund and Botswana National Service Programme, based on months of research by Genesis Analytics. The sessions attracted over 700 young people.
The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding focused on identifying district-level investment opportunities and improving coordination between national initiatives and local communities. The pact aims to streamline land access processes, support local economic development, and develop district-specific investment promotion initiatives.
Botswana's Gaolathe held talks with Dangote as part of efforts to deepen intra-African economic partnerships. The early-stage engagements covered co-investment opportunities and capital market participation, including possible listings on the Botswana Stock Exchange.
At a HATAB conference in Maun, the Minister of Environment and Tourism said Botswana aims to increase tourist arrivals to 2.7 million by 2033, extend average stay from 4.9 to 7.9 nights, and make tourism the top GDP contributor by 2030, under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme.
The 13th Parliament passed 17 bills and three key national policies during its recent session, marking a significant legislative milestone that will support the government's transformative agenda once they are assented to by the President. The bills and policies were passed as part of the government's effort to review and renew laws to ensure their relevance to national development and emerging regional and international issues.