27th November 2020
Own Correspondent
The first annual PPC Buy Botswana Virtual Conference scheduled for November 30 at Travel Lodge Monday, is expected to bolster the local enterprise avenues as it seeks to promote and support locally owned, independent small businesses in Botswana.
The Virtual Conference will have industry experts and captains of industry from CEDA, BITC, BNPC and Absa Bank. The Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Peggy Serame will conduct the official opening remarks at an event geared to galvanize local manufacturers.
“This event was conceptualized to promote and support locally owned, independent enterprises in the country. The aim is to maintain our unique community character, provide continuing opportunities for entrepreneurs, build community economic strength, and prevent the displacement of community-based businesses by national and global chains,”said explained Tuelo Botlhole, PPC Botswana Head of Business Unit Tuelo Botlhole.
He said, “This conference provides opportunities for the different area delegates to exchange new ideas and application experiences, to establish business or research relations, and to find global partners for future collaboration.”
Industry experts will speak on various topics such as Experiences and Challenges Faced by Local manufacturers, Doing Business Post COVID- 19, Value Chain Optimization and Business Process Service Management amongst others to help catapult economic development.
Botlhole explained that the conference is aligned to the 2036 pillars and endeavours to promote sustainable economic development, “as the event organizers would like to see Botswana developing into a high-income country, with an export-led economy underpinned by diversification and inclusivity.
The PPC Buy Botswana Virtual Conference will be live streamed on the PPC Botswana Facebook page and other online platforms, radio stations and print newspapers.
Over the years PPC Botswana has maintained that community empowerment is something that is very close to their hearts. The cement manufacturing giant has empowered a number of community projects across the country, which have contributed to the economy.
“One notable project is How To Us Investment a group of tailors based in Molepolole that we assisted as PPC Botswana to construct a warehouse, which they are currently using for their operations. This entity has even gone to create employment in their community. This passion for community development is aligned to PPC Botswana’s motto, “Together we are stronger,” said Botlhole.
This observation is important because the Botswana Government in its endeavor to utilize its purchasing power to further drive economic diversification and growth has over the years directed Central Government, Local Authorities and Parastatal Organizations to purchase locally produced goods and services from locally based manufacturers and service providers in 2010 with the initial implementation of the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) initiative.
It has done so with limited success and so event attempts to put actors together to share experiences and provide solutions to this conundrum.
“The event endeavours to bring these actors together. This is significant because it has been observed that some Procuring Entities (PE’s) purchase their goods and services from local providers while others continue to import some products despite local alternatives,” said Sello Motseta, Buy Botswana and Thought Leadership Conference patent proprietor.
He said, “Government also realized that some local manufacturers and service providers as well as agricultural producers have adequate capacities to produce quantities and the requisite quality to meet the needs of the local market. This event endeavours to unearth this potential to further catapult economic growth and transform people lives.”
PR Practice are the official logistics partners for this ground breaking and transformative event.
