Botswana govt seeks investment from Guj

Indian industrialists have excellent opportunities in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho, Oteng J Tebepe, high commissioner of Botswana in India, said.

A high-level delegation of the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA), led by Tebepe was in Gujarat on Wednesday to seek investments in that country from Indian industrialists.

Members of the delegation interacted with the businessmen in Gujarat on promoting trade and commerce in the African country, at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in Ahmedabad.

"There are excellent opportunities for business in these countries. Botswana and India share a colonial past and a deep respect for democratic tradition. Both countries also recognise the importance of close economic ties in the era of globalisation," said Tebepe.

The sectors which have a major potential for growth in bilateral trade and investment include gems and jewellery, agro based products, infrastructure and tourism, he said.

Manufacturing is the single largest economic sector of Botswana.

Shreyas Pandya, president of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "There is a great potential for bilateral trade in the manufacturing sector between Botswana and Gujarat. There is scope for trade in the engineering and pharmaceutical industries. The textile sector also offers investment opportunities. We need to set up units with environment-friendly technology that saves energy. The agro-food processing and ceramics sectors are among the thrust areas for development as identified by the government of Gujarat where we expect higher inflow of FDI for development of infrastructure."

The delegation comprised Mmasekgoa Masire Mwamba, chief executive officer of BEDIA, Malebogo Morakaladi, manager, information technology, Kennedy Motang, manager, networking, Mephe M Mogobe, first secretary, Botswana Embassy in Japan, and J S Juneja, BEDIA representative in India.

"The meetings organised by the delegation would help garner new investment from the state and help in propagating greater awareness about the bilateral trade scene in the countries. The prospects of trade and investment between India and Botswana are excellent as both the countries are in process of emerging as major economic powers and there is tremendous scope for increasing the volume of trade between both the countries," Pandya said.