Govt launches strategy to improve trade
Isaac Pinielo | Friday September 23, 2016 16:15
Investment, Trade and Industry assistant minister, Sadique Kebonang told journalists this week at the launch of the aid-for-trade strategy that Botswana’s level of integration remains quite minimal.
This is despite the market access opportunities for goods and services presented by various trade arrangements such as the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Further, the assistant minister noted that Botswana’s exports remain undiversified and susceptible to external shocks like fluctuations in commodity prices.
Against this backdrop, he said the government, in consultations with development partners and the private sector, has established a six-year aid-for-trade strategy that he says reflects what stakeholders wish to change in order to improve the country’s trading environment.
“The strategy, which took about eight months to develop is a result of extensive consultations with all the relevant stakeholders including the development partners and the private sector,” the minister said.
He added that the strategy identifies constraints, which impede Botswana’s trade potential and outlines initiatives to be implemented in order to address these constraints.
He also pointed out that the constraints are mapped against implementing agencies as well as associated cost estimates for their implementation. “The aid for trade initiative is based on setting objectives and producing results. To ensure that results are achieved, a result-based management framework has also been developed and forms an integral part of the strategy,” Kebonang said.
He further noted that the strategy was not developed in isolation, adding that it takes into account the development aspirations of Botswana as outlined in key policy documents like the keynote policy paper for the eleventh National Development Plan (NDP11).
According to Kebonang, the strategy also identified key national development objectives, which can be achieved through international trade. These objectives, he added, include eradication of poverty and reduction of inequality, employment creation, diversified export-led economic growth, and strengthening human development.
“These are also consistent with Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs). The implementation of the strategy will be concurrent to that of the NDP11 to ensure its contribution to national development objectives,” he stated.
Botswana is a signatory to a number of trade agreements that include; the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), SADC Protocol on Trade, European Free Trade Area, and the SADC/EU-Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
“Government continues to develop and implement projects, policies and programmes, which are aimed at improving Botswana’s business environment and to achieve economic diversification,” he said.
However, he said while government continues to make tremendous efforts to improve business environment, there remain gaps as government is faced with numerous competing developmental needs.
Meanwhile, the minister commended the Commonwealth Secretariat for partnering with Botswana on the project, noting that the Secretariat has also agreed to assist government with the review of the national export strategy.