Using the national budget to create jobs in primary industries
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 | 650 Views |
![Pushing development: Kgasa](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/mmegi/uploads/images/2024/02/20/100661.jpg&w=800&q=72&f=jpg)
Pushing development: Kgasa
A right balance between infrastructural development and the state playing the role of the entrepreneur is important. The state is the only entity that can invest in capital and labour intersive projects that we need while also striking a balance between economic and accounting profits, or even continuing to fund ventures that are not making profit but are growing the economy and creating ripple effects in the form of secondary economic activities.
If we want to create banking jobs, teaching jobs, telecom jobs, logistics jobs and so on, we have to harness the ripple effect of primary industries. I will give a living and breathing example which is a low hanging fruit. Jindal Energy is building a P13 billion 300MW power plant through the Mmamabula Coal project, which will create 3,000 jobs and talks are on to increase it to 600mw.
These roads, which are vital conduits for trade and tourism, have long been in dire need of repair. However, while this development is undoubtedly a positive step, it also raises questions about broader issues of infrastructural management and road safety that deserve closer scrutiny.The A3 and A33 roads are not just any roads, they are critical arteries that connect Botswana to its neighbours and facilitate the movement of goods and people...