27/05/2026
๐จ๐ป๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐ธ๐๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ (๐๐๐ง๐ฃ)
๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ง๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ - ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฒ:
๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป in Cumulative Investment
๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฎ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ new jobs
Significant growth in ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐-๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Botswana is at a defining moment in its economic journey. Through the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), the country is moving beyond vision into ex*****on, driving real change on the ground, despite the challenges.
At the centre of this transformation is the revitalisation of Selebi-Phikwe town as a modern industrial hub.
Speaking at the second Manufacturing Focus Consultative Forum in Selebi Phikwe last week, organised by the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship Botswana, Ms. Naledi Madala from the BETP Secretariat said the programme aims to build a high-income, export-driven, digitally enabled, and diversified economy where every citizen is empowered.
Madala said by 2036, the BETP aims to have achieved ๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป in cumulative investment, ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฎ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ new jobs, and a significant growth in ๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐-๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐.
To achieve these targets, Madala noted, manufacturing will be a key driver, with a clear focus on value addition, innovation, and global competitiveness.
To that end, Selebi-Phikwe is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, thanks to its mining legacy, existing infrastructure, skilled workforce potential, and proximity to regional markets. In essence, the BETP is not just restoring the town, it is reimagining it as a thriving industrial ecosystem.
Some of the key sectors that would drive the future of Phikwe include a resource-based & heavy industry, positioning the town as central to Botswanaโs beneficiation strategy.
Some of the projects with the most potential include green beneficiation of BCL mine tailings (nickel, copper, cobalt) with major GDP and job creation potential, together with the expansion of steel manufacturing to support import substitution and exports.
Furthermore, there is another great opportunity for advanced & futuristic industries, with projects in battery metals refinery, and producing nickel sulphate and copper foil for global energy markets, as well as clean mobility manufacturing, including electric buses.
According to the BETP Secretariat, these initiatives position Selebi-Phikwe as a green, future-ready industrial hub aligned with global sustainability trends. Additionally, the town provides for light manufacturing & inclusive growth, housing Botswanaโs first IV fluids manufacturing facility that stands to boost healthcare security, as well as extensive Agro-processing, dairy, and horticulture value chains that seek to strengthen food systems and rural economies.
Further, the Forum was informed that the BETP is supported by policy reforms to improve ease of doing business, skills development through TVET to build a future-ready workforce, as well as coordinated government efforts to accelerate implementation.
As Botswana aims to significantly increase manufacturing exports and reduce reliance on diamonds by 2036 through several initiatives including the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Reform, Selebi-Phikwe will play a critical role as a model for industrial regeneration and economic diversification.
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