Business in Botswana Foreign trade economy exports FDI

Educational level: Continuing education / Executive education programs.

Course summary (Doing business in Botswana)

Botswana has achieved impressive economic performance over the past three decades due to a number of factors. The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in its Economic report on Africa, places Botswana ahead of five other African countries that have made most progress in developing policies that promote economic growth, with the aim of reducing poverty.

Botswana's economy is still dependent on the mining sector, in particular diamonds, which contributes about a third of the country's GDP.

Example of the course Doing business in Botswana:

The Southern African development community (SADC the trade protocol which gives access to a potential market of some 200 million people) has its headquarters in Gaborone. The recently launched SADC Protocol on Trade is intended to liberalise Regional trade by ensuring reciprocal market access among member countries.

Botswana has preferential access to the European Community through the Cotonou Agreement and the United States of America through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Botswana is also A member of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU which includes South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland). Currently SACU is negotiating several trade agreements with other regions, the most advanced being the SACU-United States Free trade area (FTA) negotiations. SACU is also negotiating FTA arrangements with the European Free trade agreement (EFTA), MERCOSUR, India and China. All these agreements should create further market opportunities for investors wishing to set up in Botswana. Botswana is also A member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) is an autonomous private sector led organisation to encourage, promote and facilitate the establishment of export-oriented enterprises and selected services.

The government's policies include strategies that maximise productivity and add value throughout economy increase flows of foreign direct investment (FDI) by an attractive and transparent fiscal and operating environment, and intensify marketing Botswana's products through coordinated export promotion.

The population of Botswana is 1.8 million and is growing at the rate 3.5% per annum. Languages: Setswana and English with a variety of minority languages. Christianity is the most prevailing belief system in Botswana, with well over 60% of the population.

Botswana is centrally located in the heart of Southern Africa; region with total market size of close to 200 million people. Botswana shares borders with Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Debswana Diamond Company (Pty) Ltd is a unique partnership between the Government of the Republic of Botswana and De Beers Centenary AG.

Botswana Telecommunications corporation (BTC) was established in 1980 to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana's national and international telecommunications services. BTC is a parastatal in which the Botswana government holds 100% equity.

Borders of Botswana: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Botswana Scholarships

Business, Botswana, foreign, Trade, Economy, Exports, FDI, Gabarone, Investing, foreign, direct, investment, telecommunications, Debswana, Diamonds, Master, international business