- Tsaone Segaetsho
The 2025 Multi-Sectoral Expo Bots, dubbed the Palapye Expo, now in its third year, is scheduled for next week from Thursday to Saturday.
Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima, is expected to grace the event and deliver a keynote address at the official opening on Thursday.
The annual event, which focuses on exhibitions and networking, will take place in the metropolitan Palapye area, which has become the epicentre of the Central District economy. The event’s core mission is to foster engagement between state organs, district leadership, and the business community.
The Palapye Expo also aims to create a relaxed, accessible environment where stakeholders can connect directly with their clients and customers. It continues to offer unparalleled opportunities for collaboration, brand visibility, and regional outreach across the Central District.
The organisers of the event, Bin and Onk Consultancy Agency, told this publication that they chose the Palapye area because it offers a blend of urban growth, village integration, and institutional presence, making it a powerhouse for regional development.
“Palapye’s strategic position in Botswana’s Central District is amplified by its location along the A1 Highway, the country’s principal north–south corridor linking the capital Gaborone to the second city Francistown. This vital artery not only facilitates trade and mobility but also positions Palapye as a natural logistics and commercial hub,” said Koketso Vinolia Humu, the director and coordinator of Bin and Onk Consultancy Agency.
Humu said Palapye, with a population of over 700 000 according to the 2022 population census, connects to the Orapa–Lethlakane road, serving Botswana’s diamond mining belt, and the route to Selebi-Phikwe, a key mining and industrial town.
“These transport links make Palapye a gateway to major economic zones, boosting its appeal for investment, infrastructure development, and regional integration,” said Humu.
The event focuses on business leads and sales, bringing together thousands of buyers and decision-makers from the region’s capital goods and consumer sectors, all concentrated in a single, strategic location.
Exhibitors also have the opportunity to promote their brand in a town that hosts the Morupule Power Station and the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), creating a vibrant market with significant commercial activity and prospects for new business. Additional opportunities include engaging with key industry stakeholders and connecting with local and foreign trade bodies.
