Botswana’s economy cannot survive on digging up resources and shipping them out raw, Minister for State President, Defence & Security, Moeti Mohwasa, told business leaders at the 30th Northern Trade Fair on Thursday.
Officially opening Business Botswana Northern Trade Fair, Mohwasa said Botswana’s historical reliance on mineral extraction has brought macroeconomic stability, but it has insulated growth
Mohwasa said. "The era of simply digging up resources and shipping them away in raw form must end."
“To build a robust, self-sustaining economy, we must move away from a shallow growth model. We must diversify aggressively by transitioning into high-value manufacturing, commercial agro-processing, and localized processing.”
The Minister addressed a direct link between national stability and commercial success. "Peace is not merely the absence of conflict," he said. "It is the presence of regulatory and physical certainty where an entrepreneur can deploy capital without fear."
Outlining the government's new direction under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), Mohwasa was categorical about the state's changed role. "The BETP represents a decisive break from the past," he said. "The role of government is no longer to run commercial enterprises or act as the primary financier of economic activity. Instead, our role shifts decisively to being the facilitator, regulator, architect, and protector of an enabling market environment."
In his closing remarks, the Minister issued a direct challenge to the private sector. "The value chain revolution cannot be achieved by government decrees. It requires the specialised execution, capital, and agility of the private sector, coordinated under the capable umbrella of Business Botswana."
He called for an end to silos between heavy industries, technology innovators, and small-scale enterprises. "The government guarantees you the stability, physical safety, and institutional protection required to grow and protect your investments. Take the calculated risks, invest heavily in local value addition, and let us build a prosperous, employment-rich New Botswana together."
The theme of this year's fair is, "Value Chain Revolution: From Local Resources to Global Markets."
