Indian investors explore business opportunities in Botswana
A delegation of Indian investors from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) visited Botswana this week, seeking potential business ventures and investment opportunities in various sectors.
Speaking at a welcome reception on Monday, Botswana’s Ambassador to India, Gilbert Mangole, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to attracting Indian investment.
However, he acknowledged ongoing visa issuance challenges, assuring that the issue would be resolved by the end of June.
Mangole emphasised Botswana’s urgent need for foreign investment to tackle unemployment. “We have a challenge of unemployment,” he said, urging Indian investors to create jobs and transfer skills by partnering with local companies.
The delegation’s leader, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, CEO of India’s Shriraam Engineering, expressed interest in Botswana’s untapped salt reserves. Shocked by the absence of value-added production, he highlighted the country’s potential to supply Africa and beyond with various salt-based products.
India’s High Commissioner to Botswana, Bathath Kumar, pledged to ensure that investment missions yield tangible outcomes, while Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association CEO, Mmantlha Sankoloba, stressed the importance of business-to-business partnerships over government-led initiatives.
The visit underscores Botswana’s broader goal of boosting industrialisation and ensuring its natural resources contribute significantly to economic growth.