Botswana hosts global credit insurance conference
Gaone Marumoloa | Thursday March 23, 2017 16:31
The event, called the Prague Club Committee (PCC) spring meeting, will see around 50 senior participants from 20 international members of the Berne Union gather to discuss political risk, trade finance and credit insurance.
The Berne Union is the leading association for the global export credit and investment insurance industry, which collectively protects the interests of exporters and works towards the advancement of export credit insurers all over Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Addressing the media this week, BECI general manager, Cowell Habana said the meeting is a unique opportunity for BECI as an export credit insurer and also for Botswana as a nation.
“Being a member of the Berne Union and hosting them in our own backyard will create significant opportunities for our clients – present and future,” he said.
Habana noted that the meeting would cast a spotlight on Botswana with delegates expected to explore the culture, heritage and natural environment across a range of thrilling excursions organised alongside the conference.
He pointed out that they will engage closely with thought leaders in the export credit insurance industry, and will discuss in detail the threats and opportunities that exporters in Botswana face when dealing internationally.
Habana said Botswana is faced with an array of urgent national priorities, noting that there is need to diversify away from mineral dependence, and have an urgent need to reduce unemployment by creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs.
He said a more vibrant export sector will help the nation accomplish these goals, adding that by hosting the meeting, it will open doors for them and enable BECI to adopt intelligence and high level strategies that will give exporters in Botswana an advantage.
“With eight PCC members based on the continent and many others involved in regional transactions, understanding the business environment, risks and opportunities across markets in Africa is vital,” said Habana.