- Tsaone Segaetsho
More than 100 Chinese enterprises were introduced to Botswana’s investment prospects recently, with the country positioning its Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as gateways to continental trade.
Botswana’s Special Adviser and Presidential Envoy for Trade and Investment Affairs (Asia Pacific), Miles Nan, told this publication on Monday that he used the Botswana Economic and Investment Exchange Forum in Beijing to showcase the country’s SEZs as competitive hubs for global business.
The forum attracted over 100 Chinese companies from strategic sectors including mining, tourism, water management, agriculture, digital technology and environmental protection.
“At the forum, the Botswana delegation delivered a strong pitch that resonated with the Chinese business community. We highlighted our Special Economic Zones, emphasising their attractive tax incentives, world-class infrastructure, and Botswana’s central, strategic location on the African continent. These nine SEZs offer compelling opportunities to establish manufacturing and distribution hubs for access to the continental market,” Nan said.
He further urged Chinese firms to take advantage of the SEZ framework, which provides a gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) markets, collectively representing more than 1.3 billion consumers.
The forum also served as a platform to deepen bilateral ties, with Botswana and China marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a series of business matchmaking sessions aimed at fostering stronger commercial partnerships.
