John Churu
The Business Botswana’s Bi-annual National Business Conference (NBC) will, starting this year assume a new agenda aimed at aligning the organisation with the goals and objectives of the national Vision 2036. The theme of the conference this year is “Breakthrough to a high income Botswana: The Role of the private sector in charting the path to 2036.”
“Our expectations this year as we move forward are to revolve around the Vision 2036, so whatever we can as a private sector we relate to that,” said Tabake Kobedi, NBC Committee chairman at a recent press briefing. Kobedi said another addition to the conference is what they have coined “conversations with the president.” During this session, participants will have time to interact with President Mokgweetsi Masisi and to express their hopes and concerns for the private sector.
“We do hope it will be an interactive and interesting session. In addition, we will also have an opportunity to meet with the Minister of Trade and Industry Bogolo Kenewendo. We will ask her to articulate what her Ministry has in store for the Private Sector,” Kobedi added.
Neo Moroka, who is the Chairperson of the Vision 2036 Council is expected adress the conference to unpack the vision for partcipants. “Other speakers will come from Switzerland since that country is a success story and has been a high income country all along. The World Bank is expected, according to our meeting agenda, to explain to delegates what it actually means to be a High Income country,” added Kobedi.
An interesting addition to the speakers at this year’s conference are Batswana who are working and domiciled internationally who will share their experiences on working abroad. “The whole objective is to gauge as a private sector, our stake on the ground. As a private sector we need to introspect on our aspirations and objectives. The conference will not be complete without dweling on issues such as innovation, human capital dvelopment and small businesses. We want to explore what Botswana is doing in respect of allowing small businesses to aspire to Vision 20136,” added Kobedi.
For those travelling to the conference which will be held in Francistown on the 9th of September 2018, organisers are encouraging them to use the national rail. “We want to make this journey a memorable one,” Kobedi emphasised.