June 12, 2018[Edition 1, Volume 1]

BEMA NEWSLETTER 2018

QUARTELY

1

CONTENTS

PAGE 2

BOARD MEMBERS

PAGE 3

CEO’S NOTES

PAGE 5

AGREEMENTS AND

ACHIEVEMENTS PAGE 7 MEETING REVIEWS AND SITE VISITS

PAGE 10 PUBLIC THOUGHTS PAGE 11

NEW MEMBERS PAGE 13 UPCOMING EVENTS

2

STST

V ICE PRESIDENT:

PA KO TSIMANYANA

BEMA PRESIDENT:

NKOSI MWABA

SECRETARY GENERAL:

GEORGE MANHOTA

TREASURER: SAGREN

MUNSAMY

DEPUTY SEC. GENERAL:

CHRISTINE NTLHAILE

A DDITIONAL MEMBER:

MBA KANYI MATHAMBO

A DDITIONAL MEMBER:

P. RA JESWARAN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER:

MMA NTLHA SANKOLOBA

BEMA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

3

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S NOTES

IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT DEVELOPING EXPORT CAPACITY IS A CRITICAL DRIVER OF FIRM LEVEL

COMPETITIVENESS AND PRODUCTIVITY. BEMA`S STAND IS THAT, FOR GROWTH TO HAVE THE LARGEST

EFFECT ON SUSTAINED POVERTY REDUCTION, MORE EFFORT SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON EXPORT

DEVELOPMENT (GOODS AND SERVICES) TO CREATE DEEP AND DURABLE MARKETS AND

DIVERSIFICATION OF BOTSWANA`S ECONOMY TO CREATE INCLUSIVE GROWTH.

EXPORT CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON SECTORS AND MARKETS WHERE

SMALLER PRODUCERS AND THE POOR ARE BETTER REPRESENTED CAN HAVE REAL AND SUSTAINABLE

PRO-POOR TRADE IMPACTS. WITHIN THE SMALLER LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES, SUCH AS BOTSWANA IN

THIS INSTANCE, EXPORT LED GROWTH IS A KEY PRIORITY TO DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY. INCREASING THE

CAPACITY TO EXPORT INVOLVES SEVERAL FACTORS INCLUDING THROUGH TRADE ENABLING

STANDARDS AND SERVICES AND ENHANCING THE EXPORT ORIENTATION OF FIRMS.

IT IS UNDOUBTED THEREFORE, THAT BUILDING BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS – PARTICULARLY FOR

EXPORT MARKETS – MUST INVOLVE GOVERNMENTS AND TRADE SUPPORT INSTITUTIONS WORKING

WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SUPPORTING COMPETITIVENESS WITH A COHERENT STRATEGY.

TRANSLATING THIS STRATEGY INTO SUCCESS DEPENDS ON A CLOSE AND ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP

BETWEEN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPPORTIVE BUSINESS

ENVIRONMENT.

THIS COMPONENT ADDRESSES SPECIFIC BUSINESS REGULATIONS AND PROCESSES FOR TRADE TO

REDUCE HIGH COSTS OF TRADING THROUGH:

• TRANSPARENCY: ADDRESSING TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS THAT ADD TO THE COST OF TRADE BY

INCREASING ACCESS TO MARKET AND TRADE INFORMATION,

• ENHANCING ICT AND ENSURING FUNCTIONING MECHANISMS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND

ACCOUNTABILITY.

• PRIVATE SECTOR LED POLICY FORMULATION;

THIS ENTAILS ADDRESSING IMPROVED PROCESSES FOR TRADERS; ADVOCACY ON KEY ISSUES SUCH AS

COMPETITION, STANDARDS, TAX AND THE INCLUSIVENESS OF THE BENEFITS FROM TRADE AND

TRANSPORT FACILITATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT; PROMOTING EFFECTIVE DIALOGUE

ON TRADE AND EXPORT ISSUES BETWEEN AND AMONG THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE

PUBLIC SECTOR; AND MAINTAINING A FOCUS ON INNOVATIVE AND POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMATIONAL

BUSINESS IDEAS THAT ACHIEVE THE TRADE GROWTH OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNTRY AND ADVOCACY

GROUPS LIKE BOTSWANA EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (BEMA)

4

AGREEMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

BEMA AND BOBS SIGNED A MEMORANDUM

OF UNDERSTANDING

The signing of the MOU between the two esteemed

institutions marked a solidified strategic partnership,

with this MOU the two institutions intend to collaborate

on designing and delivering interventions that will

enable our members to implement relevant standards.

BOTSWANA SIGNS THE COMESA-EAC-

SADC TRIPARTITE FREE TRADE AREA

Botswana has signed the Tripartite Free Trade Area

(TFTA) Agreement which consists of 26 countries from

the three Regional Economic Communities namely:

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

(COMESA), East African Commission (EAC), and the

Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Tripartite FTA agreement has the potential to

boost trade in Africa and accelerate development by

creating a huge single market of about 700 million

people with an estimated gross domestic product of

well over US$1.4 trillion.

The TFTA aims to boost intra-African trade through

the creation of a wider market, increased investment

flows, enhanced competitiveness and development of

cross-regional infrastructure. The TFTA also serves as

a building block for the completion of the Continental

Free Trade Area.

5

PREMIER CLOTHING RECEIVES

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION

Premier clothing became the first and only local private

company to have such certification by BOBS. This

certification by BOBS gives the company the ability to

demonstrate consistency in providing products and

services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Leading manufacturer of corporate and work wear,

Premier clothing (pty) Ltd has been awarded a BOS ISO

900:2015 standard certification by Botswana Bureau of

Standards (BOBS), which is the international standard

that specifies requirements for a quality management

system.

FLO-TEK GROUP RE-BRANDS

After 20 years of growth and business success as the

leading manufacturer and supplier of pipes, fittings,

tanks and irrigation products, Flo-Tek has rebranded

the company. The official launch a new Flo-tek

Botswana logo was held recently.

The assistant Minister of Trade and Industry,

Honorable Biggie Butale gave a keynote address at the

event. As part of the day events, Flo-tek awarded long

serving employees with cash amounting to P10 000

cheques and certificates.

Director of the company Mr. Martin Joel explained

that they wanted to create a brand that will stand as a

unique mark in the market, not only distinguishing

Flo-Tek products, but also creating a memorable and

impactful association to quality services. The new

brand Flo-Tek hopes to bring innovative products and

better service, hence ‘FLOW BETTER WITH US’.

6

MEETING REVIEWS AND SITE VISITS

BEMA CEO MRS SANKOLOBA MEETS A

PHD STUDENT STUDYING ECONOMICS.

Their discussion centered on failure by

government to implement proposed government

policies that promote economic growth. They also

agreed that there is a major concern to properly

implement these policies. They both proposed that

there is a need to educate all involved parties, from

lower level employees who implement policies to

higher level employees who formulate policies.

This will ensure that all players will properly

appreciate these policies and the implications they

bring and a deeper engagement of the private

sector by the government of Botswana.

BEMA REPRESENTS BOTSWANA AT THE PRIVATE

SECTOR ENGAGEMENT MECHANISM FORUM

The meeting was about how SADC wants to collaborate with the private sector and why, on private sector engagement on national and regional level.

BEMA CEO SPEAKS ON PLANNED PLASTIC

BAN ON YARONA FM

BEMA CEO was on Yarona FM current affairs show,

live the talk to discuss how the planned plastic ban

would affect the fragile manufacturing industry.

BEMA’s viewpoint is that the affected stakeholders

should have been appropriately consulted before the

official decision to ban plastic bags was made. The CEO

said there is need for government to assist and give

manufactures sufficient time to help them begin laying

the groundwork to exploit the transition to produce

other related environmental friendly products. BEMA

further called on government to involve youth and

assist them to start companies that produce

alternatives to plastics, as a way of addressing the rising

unemployment.

BEMA AND ITS VALUED MEMBERS ATTENDING

THE RULES OF ORIGIN TRAINING PROVIDED BY

BURS.

7

BEMA TEAM VISITS BABIC HOLDING

The BEMA team visited the new Babic holdings production facilities which

they recently moved to. A few concerns were raised by Babic holdings

representative such as the lack of support from schools outside of

Gaborone as the schools get their book supplies for students from shops

which source their materials from South Africa.

BEMA TEAM AT MATREX AFRICA

BEMA team at Matrex Africa to have a view of the

production site and their products which are road repair

materials.

VIEWING THE SITE

AT BUDDY BOTSWANA

BEMA at BUDDY to discuss

challenges faced by

BUDDY.BUDDY Botswana

products includes t-shirts,

tracksuits, and security and

safety uniforms.

8

BEMA TEAM ON A SITE VISIT AT PORTFOLIO BOTSWANA

The pharmaceutical manufactures were visited by BEMA to discuss issues,

challenges faced by the company and possible solutions to address the

challenges.

A SITE VISIT TO SUNITA CABLES

A site visit to our member Sunita Cables to discuss issues and challenges they are facing. We had a

wonderful view of their production site and production process of electrical cables.

9

Join the conversation LIKE our Facebook page “Botswana Exporters and Manufactures Association-BEMA”

QUESTION?

Freedom of

movement of

business people

within the

continent. What’s

your take?

ANSWER!! Easier said than done but

let’s do our part, we need to

scale up intra SADC trade,

Produce Africa will be

discussing upcoming

opportunities within the

SADC region and learning

what BEMA has lined up

for them.

QUESTION?

The textile industry in Botswana has been

shrinking, in the past there were more

incentives from the government, more

business opportunities and fewer players in

the market. What are your thoughts?

ANSWER!!

Our vision is to contribute edit standards and

deregulate quotas. Since the Multifiber Act (MFA)

was replaced with World Trade Organization in

1994, EU raped our market. For this Batswana

struggle to make it to the main stream. While we

were sleeping (literally) they said and signed that the MFA elimination is only 10 years temporary.

But the final elimination of the MFA in 2005, just

prior to the commencement of the global economic

crisis resulted in a loss of TC exports. Botswana, as

well as many developing countries could not

compete with the powerful textile producing

countries such as India and China which can sell

their goods at considerably lower prices in the

global market.

BOBS has invited the public to review textile

standards but are you how will you happily

purchase dusted 20-year-old thread reel for P18

every year, use it to sew and confidently sell it.

QUESTION?

How do you support

local produce, who

are non-members?

ANSWER!!

BEMA provides

specialized exporter

serv ices to current

and aspiring

exporters and

manufacturers. Our

members benefit

from our tailor-made

serv ices and

programs not limited

to business

consultancy,

workshops/training,

and

advocacy/represent

ation, promoting joint

ventures and

ventures and factory

v isits. Our

membership is

subscription based.

10

NEW MEMBERS

MAUNGO CRAFTS

MAUNGO CRAFTS JAMS

The jams contain natural preservatives and

have shelf life of 3 months. Nana flavor can

be used on pancakes, crepes and waffles as a

topping.

DOBI FOODS

DOUGLAS MANAGEMENT

SERVICES

AGRO PRODUCTS

They sell roasted and salted peanuts, also

boiled and dried peanuts

SERVICE PROVIDER

T hey offer a wide range of quality

im provement services to industries

for the enhancement of process

performance and overall business

competitiveness through consultancy

GAMMON HOLDING T/A

GAMMON TRUSSES

They are truss manufacturers and

roofing materials specialists.

NDI INVESTMENTS (PTY ) LTD

THEY DEAL

WITH LED

SCREEN

(DISPLAY)

SUPPLY

GLOBAL LUBRICANTS (PTY ) LTD

LUBRICANTS

Global lubricants trading as

Royal Lube is Botswana’s first

lubricant and grease

manufacturing facility. Their

products are manufactured with

high quality virgin oils

GAMMON HOLDINGS

11

Macfarlane And Joseph(PTY)LTD

AFRICAN GROSS

BOTSWANA ABANIA ENTERPRISES

Macfarlane and Joseph make

all kinds of leather products.

Abania Enterprise makes

clothes for people who want

to stand out

They deal with investment promotion

and business development planning

with a focus on local business

establishment, facilitation of inter-

country collaborations and linkages

through trade missions.

NORKRIDGE HOLDINGS

SESCENTI PACKAGING

Norkridge Holdings is a salt &

spices manufacturing company,

trading as Sescenti packaging on all

our product lines.

PORTFOLIO PHARMACEUTICALS BOTSWANA

PHARMACEUTICALS

They manufacture a wide variety of

nutraceutical products including

multivitamin and mineral products.

12

UPCOMING EVENTS

CHINA

China International Import Expo

(CIIE) will launch its first exhibition

at National Exhibition and

Convention Center (Shanghai) from 5

to 10, November 2018.

WASHINGTON D.C

17th AGOA Forum July 9-12, 2018, in

Washington D.C.

NAMIBIA

BEMA will be attending the 3rd annual SADC industrialisation week to be held from 30 July to1 august 2018 at safari court hotel and conference centre, Windhoek, in the Republic of Namibia

13

Buy local Campaign

Bema Will Be Hosting A “Buy Local” Initiative Which

Aims to Influence the Buying Patterns in Both Public and

Private Sectors to Increase Local Production, Influence

Consumers to Buy Local and Stimulate Job Creation.

When consumers buy local make goods and business procure their goods

and services locally they inject money back into the economy which

contributes to the job creation in the value chain and help safeguard

existing jobs.

ZAMBIA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

The 54t hZambia international trade fair will take place from 27t h June to 3rd July

2018.

KEY DATES

27TH June –trade fair begins

27th June –networking /ministers welcome reception

27th -29th June 2018 –three exclusive business

28th June –Judging of exhibits

29th June-ZITF official opening

1st and 3rd July –buyers and sellers meet

3rdJuly –Trade fair ends

14

B O T S W A N A E X P O R T E R S A N D M A N U F A C T U R E S A S S O S C I A T I O N ( B E M A )

Gaborone, Main Mall – Independence Avenue, Plot 110 | Tel: +267 3911883 | www.bema.bw| Email: bema@bema.co.bw

WHO CAN BE A MEMBER?

Exporters, manufacturers, service providers and

any person or body that has a potential to export

or manufacture goods and services

HOW WE BENEFIT OUR

MEMBERS

Export counselling, Workshops and training,

Factory v isits Manufacturers expo

Exposure through the manufacturer’s directory

COMMITTEES WE REPRSENT

OUR GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

SADC National Committee, National,

Committee on Trade Policy Negotiations

(NCTPN), National Committee on Tariff

Barriers, National Economic Diversification

Committee and others

A BENEFIT WE ARE TO YOU

To assist manufacturers’ production of goods and

services to meet international standards

To provide specialized export services to current,

potential and aspiring exporters

To ensure that exporters of goods and services have

the competence to achieve desired market access

and sustain competitiveness

To induce the expansion of expansion of production

of export related products professional service