Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Beauty Manake says Botswana’s economic landscape is diverse, with various sectors contributing to the nation's growth and development.
She said while Government has implemented policies to encourage the participation of native African black Batswana citizens across all sectors, there are particular areas where their presence is notably strong like in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing contributing only 1.7 per cent to the GDP.
Manake stated that the agricultural sector, particularly livestock farming and crop production has traditionally been the mainstay of many native Batswana as it holds cultural and economic significance.
“However, there is still room for increasing participation on native Batswana. Foreigners and naturalised citizens dominate major sectors of the economy.
“It is important to note that Government continues to support initiatives aimed at further empowering native Batswana across all sectors of the economy, fostering inclusive growth and equitable opportunities for all citizens,” Manake said.
Manake indicated that the Government has a cocktail of initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of citizens in the economy. Manake told Parliament that among these are the reserved activities for citizens, some of which
are achieved from issuance of Trading Licences and the Business Registration Certificate as per the Trade Act, 2019 and Trade Regulations, 2020.
She added that Government has initiatives geared towards encouraging natural citizens to access funding although most of them do not distinguish between natural and naturalised citizens.
The minister was responding to a question from MP for Selibe Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse who asked the Minister to state and explain which sectors of the economy are major and their contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
Which sector and sub-sector of the economy is dominated by native African black Batswana citizens; Which sector and sub-sector of the economy is dominated by foreigners and naturalized citizens;
Why foreigners and naturalized citizens dominate major sectors of the economy; and What codified plans are in place to improve the situation including targets and timelines.
Manake revealed that the Government of Botswana is committed to increasing the participation of native African black Batswana in all sectors of the economy.
“As such the Government has implemented policies to promote greater participation of Batswana for example, the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy (CEEP).
“The CEEP aims to create opportunities for native Batswana through capacity building, access to finance, and preferential treatment in Government procurement processes. Parliament approved the Economic Inclusion Act in 2019 for operationalization of the CCE Policy.”
Manake told Parliament that establishment of Development Finance Institutions such as the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) provide financial support to native Batswana to start and expand businesses in high-potential sectors. She said the Government also has initiatives for specific sectors of citizens such as Youth and Women to try and increase their participation in the economy.
She revealed that according to Statistics Botswana data, from 2014- 2023 the largest contributor to Botswana GDP has been the mining sector at 19.4 per cent followed by the public administration and defence sector 15.6 per cent and the retail and wholesale sector at 11.1 per cent.
“Our data currently does not disaggregate between citizens by birth and by naturalization. However, indications are that the retail sector is dominated by native African black Batswana citizens as most of these business activities are reserved for Batswana. However, the combined Wholesale and Retail Sector is dominated by foreigners and naturalised citizens,” Manake stated.
She said in terms of the general economy, natural Batswana are predominantly in the Smaller, Micro and Medium sectors space, including the informal sector while the Medium and Large scales are predominantly owned by naturalised Batswana and foreigners.
She said while Government has implemented policies to encourage the participation of native African black Batswana citizens across all sectors, there are particular areas where their presence is notably strong like in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing contributing only 1.7 per cent to the GDP.
Manake stated that the agricultural sector, particularly livestock farming and crop production has traditionally been the mainstay of many native Batswana as it holds cultural and economic significance.
“However, there is still room for increasing participation on native Batswana. Foreigners and naturalised citizens dominate major sectors of the economy.
“It is important to note that Government continues to support initiatives aimed at further empowering native Batswana across all sectors of the economy, fostering inclusive growth and equitable opportunities for all citizens,” Manake said.
Manake indicated that the Government has a cocktail of initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of citizens in the economy. Manake told Parliament that among these are the reserved activities for citizens, some of which
are achieved from issuance of Trading Licences and the Business Registration Certificate as per the Trade Act, 2019 and Trade Regulations, 2020.
She added that Government has initiatives geared towards encouraging natural citizens to access funding although most of them do not distinguish between natural and naturalised citizens.
The minister was responding to a question from MP for Selibe Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse who asked the Minister to state and explain which sectors of the economy are major and their contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
Which sector and sub-sector of the economy is dominated by native African black Batswana citizens; Which sector and sub-sector of the economy is dominated by foreigners and naturalized citizens;
Why foreigners and naturalized citizens dominate major sectors of the economy; and What codified plans are in place to improve the situation including targets and timelines.
Manake revealed that the Government of Botswana is committed to increasing the participation of native African black Batswana in all sectors of the economy.
“As such the Government has implemented policies to promote greater participation of Batswana for example, the Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy (CEEP).
“The CEEP aims to create opportunities for native Batswana through capacity building, access to finance, and preferential treatment in Government procurement processes. Parliament approved the Economic Inclusion Act in 2019 for operationalization of the CCE Policy.”
Manake told Parliament that establishment of Development Finance Institutions such as the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) provide financial support to native Batswana to start and expand businesses in high-potential sectors. She said the Government also has initiatives for specific sectors of citizens such as Youth and Women to try and increase their participation in the economy.
She revealed that according to Statistics Botswana data, from 2014- 2023 the largest contributor to Botswana GDP has been the mining sector at 19.4 per cent followed by the public administration and defence sector 15.6 per cent and the retail and wholesale sector at 11.1 per cent.
“Our data currently does not disaggregate between citizens by birth and by naturalization. However, indications are that the retail sector is dominated by native African black Batswana citizens as most of these business activities are reserved for Batswana. However, the combined Wholesale and Retail Sector is dominated by foreigners and naturalised citizens,” Manake stated.
She said in terms of the general economy, natural Batswana are predominantly in the Smaller, Micro and Medium sectors space, including the informal sector while the Medium and Large scales are predominantly owned by naturalised Batswana and foreigners.
