Mining giants drive entrepreneurship
Mpho Mokwape | Monday December 2, 2013 16:44
The idea aims to help the growth of small and medium scale businesses and assist excelling students to gain skills and knowledge in respective fields.
Both projects, which were officially launched on Thursday, are the collaboration of the three mining companies and the government of Botswana in an effort to maximise the benefits Batswana derive from the mining industry and the growth and diversification of the economy.
The Tokafala project features all companies and it is a three-year deal expected to promote economic development and employment creation in the country by catalysing the growth of micro, small and medium-micro enterprises (SMME).
The Bokamoso project is a two-year graduate programme between government, Department of Internships and Anglo American that aims to stimulate the development of local talent. It is expected to offer practical international work experience to unemployed graduates in the country.
The graduates will be drawn from the National Internship Programme and the Directorate of Public Service Management graduate databases.
Speaking at the official launch of the projects, Minister of Trade and Industry, Dorcas Makgato-Malesu said while Botswana recognised its efforts in managing its diamond resources, it has always been cognisant of the fact that it needs to plan for further diversification of the economy.
She explained that in executing the strategy, partnerships with leading multi-nationals are recognised as important building blocks to stimulate economic development. Also talented citizens will be equipped with the necessary skills and experience to compete in the dynamic international environment.
Malesu emphasised that the government welcomes the inauguration of the two initiatives, as they are very important and will contribute immensely to the economy of the country pointing out that they are aligned with the objectives of entrepreneurship development, citizen economic empowerment and ultimately economic diversification.
'Both the projects also encapsulate the ultimate goals of the two government flagship programmes being economic diversification drive and poverty eradication. The latter will be the medium that feeds resources, both human and otherwise, into the programmes through the hubs that will be created,' noted Malesu.
Debswana Chief Execute Officer, Jim Gowans said supporting the development of a vibrant, diversified economy is not something the private sector can do alone stressing that the true power of this partnership lies in the collaboration of the private sector and government.
'Tokafala will also complement existing government enterprise development institutions, such as the poverty eradication programme, providing capacity building support, and facilitating citizen entrepreneurs in gaining access to government programmes,' said Gowans. He said a number of enterprises would benefit from commercial opportunities in the Debswana supply chain saying that they have already established a preferential procurement programme that has grown year-on-year.
Gowans explained that the preferred procurement policy emphasises the development of local business. He said that in 2012, more than P3.5 billion in goods and services were procured from local and citizen-owned businesses by Debswana representing 62% of the total procurement spend.
'We are focused on increasing the number of citizen-owned companies in the Debswana supply chain.
In 2012, we assessed and registered 195 new citizen-owned companies, and this is where we look to Tokafala to assist us in our ambition for more Batswana to be part of and benefit from our commercial activities,' said Gowans.
For his part, De Beers Executive Head for Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Bruce Cleaver, said beyond encouraging enterprise development in Botswana more broadly, as De Beers they hope Tokafala will directly support citizen-owned enterprises in accessing the commercial opportunities presented through the migration.
He noted that as De Beers they hope Tokafala will support and supplement the company's ongoing beneficiation programme, which was formalised in 2007.
It (beneficiation programme) sells a proportion of production for local cutting and polishing, subsequently creating over 3,750 jobs supported in the local diamond-manufacturing sector.