Stakeholders embrace #PushaBW
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday November 27, 2023 06:00
The launch of the campaign has seen local retailers increasing the number of local products on their shelves and also committing to engaging local producers on their listing requirements.
Under the stewardship of BITC, the campaign has spurred local retailers, including prominent names like Woolworths, Square Mart, Fours Cash and Carry, Trans Africa, Choppies, and Sefalana, to augment their offerings with more local products.
The success of #PushaBW is evident in the broad array of stakeholders who have joined forces to enhance its impact, fostering citizen economic empowerment, economic growth and diversification, employment creation, and export-led growth.
Beauty Manake, the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, highlighted the campaign's positive influence on local entrepreneurs, instilling confidence and fostering the creation of a diverse range of goods.
“Over the past few years, following the launch of the #PushaBW campaign, there has been a steady shift towards more awareness, appreciation and support for local products and services,” she noted.
An additional triumph lies in the corporate sector's increasing engagement with the campaign, with more companies establishing Citizen Economic Empowerment Programmes as a response to the call for supporting local businesses.
These efforts come at a crucial time when the country's import bill is soaring, despite the potential for local production, signalling an opportunity for job creation and income generation among the nation’s youth and farmers.
BITC, in collaboration with retailers, has actively worked to drive the inclusion of local products on store shelves.
The #PushaBW road show campaign conducted last year aimed to boost consumption of local products, creating demand, fostering increased production, and consequently driving growth and employment.
In essence, the #PushaBW campaign not only encourages local companies to cater to the domestic market but also calls upon consumers to actively support local initiatives by choosing indigenous products and services. The overarching goal is to stimulate economic diversification, propelling Botswana’s economy forward through the identification, promotion, and increased adoption of local products and services.