BITC markets Botswana on DSTV
Pauline Dikuelo | Thursday August 14, 2014 11:20
‘Doing Buisiness in Botswana’ airs weekly on CNBC Africa (channel 410). The 20-minute programme will be aired every Tuesday at 6:30pm with repeats of the same programme on Wednesdays at 9:30pm.
The program provides an in-depth look into the local business turf and business development dynamics in Botswana. It highlights the investment opportunities that Botswana has to offer, and it is hoped will lure international investors.
The programme is sponsored by Brand Botswana and is in partnership with Botswana Fibre Networks (BOFINET) and Simon & Lawrence, who handles the production.
Speaking at the launch, BITC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Letsebe Sejoe said, “We have reached a crossroads where we need to step up the game and start being more aggressive in marketing the country. Botswana is not well known, yet people out there know about the Okavango delta.
“We need to tell the good Botswana story to an audience of influential people out there because we have achieved a lot. We are ranked the second most profitable investment destination and we are known for our tourism and diamond sectors”.
Sejoe said this initiative would help to boost the economy.
Detailing the journey leading to the programme’s launch, the Simon & Lawrence Director, Thuso Oitsile, said their journey began four years ago when pitched the idea to CNBC to showcase Botswana’s market on television.
“We wanted our country to also be known internationally because smaller countries were doing it. We were surprised when CNBC told us that our country didn’t have a story to tell. This drove us to the then BEDIA in an effort to prove them wrong,” he said.
Oitsile said their dreams were almost shut down when BEDIA told them that there were no funds for their project, and no other company showed any interest in investing in their idea.
The 52 episodes will run for a period of 12 months will cover various sectors such as; agriculture, mining, finance, education, information communications technology (ICT), real estate, tourism and investment.
CNBC covers a wide range of about 48 Sub Saharan Countries and mostly market the African Business atmosphere.
Further developments at BITC that take off this month include a radio show on Gabz FM called ‘Business in Botswana’, a Botswana campaign on BBC and will place the Botswana Brand Immigration stamp at boarder posts around the country.