SEZA targets investments at more than 200 million euros – The Patriot on Sunday



[ad_1]


Chief Executive Officer of SEZA Thatayaone Ndzinge


Chief Executive Officer of SEZA Thatayaone Ndzinge

New child in the market, the Authority of Special Economic Zones (SEZA), decided to take up the challenge with the desire to attract investors who bring foreign direct investment (FDI) greater than 200 million pesos . The revelation was made by Joel Duke Ramaphoi, Director – Investor Attraction and Oversight, during the recent presentation of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Implementation Framework to the media.

SEZA President and CEO, Thatayaone Ndzinge, optimistic about her optimism, is optimistic about achieving their ambitious goals and will diversify their economies to create jobs. In an interview with The patriot Sunday Earlier this week, Ndzinge said their main goals, which will be implemented by the SEZs, are to create an investor-friendly environment to improve competitiveness and target value-added sectors offering market-oriented investment opportunities and costs, tailored to the needs of investors.

Special economic zones

SEZs are encircled enclaves that benefit from special regulations, incentives and institutional frameworks, different from the rest of the economy. SEZs will play a crucial role as a driver of economic development that will place Botswana in a leading position to become a leading center for investment in the region, Ndzinge said. Over the years, he added, the attraction of investments has been marred by constraints such as the lack of developed land for the establishment of industries. Mr. Ndzinge is delighted to see that SEZA has used huge pieces of land to attract investors, with no paperwork or paperwork, in accordance with the institution's regulatory mandate.

When creating SEZs, the government creates exemptions to its own rules, to create a privileged paradise uo status which prevails elsewhere on the national territory. It is a special jurisdiction within a state and a trade capacity building tool, with the aim of promoting rapid economic growth by using fiscal and trade incentives to attract FDI, skills and technology. Ramaphoi adds: "SEZs are a way to not only attract foreign direct investment, but also to help local industries improve their exports through appropriate channels and with the help of new ones. foreign partners ".

Botswana is able to become an investment center that examines investment opportunities in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, financial services, water management, aerospace and aviation. which are targeted by SEZA. "We also want to attract more FDI, which can help create jobs.We want to allow local industries to increase their production in order to reduce the high cost of imports of goods and services. . We also need to diversify the products we export, and we work with local investors to give us the means to achieve it, "said Ndzinge.

According to Ndzinge, the economic benefits badociated with SEZs range from economic transformation to supply chain management and SME empowerment, to facilitating the acceleration of international trade for local investors. He added that they had formed clusters with SMEs in the economic areas of meat and leather, such as beef farmers Ghanzi and Sandveldt and Mosisedi's holdings, to facilitate the production and marketing of meat. market penetration. He pointed out that SEZA has a regulatory framework to ensure that the appropriate procedures are followed during the creation of companies, including compliance with licensing requirements and compliance with employee quotas. citizens.

Barry Condron, Director, Attraction and Investor Facilitation, said SEZA is committed to developing a world-clbad infrastructure using a dedicated budget and installing cutting-edge technology to attract reputable investors. He announced the creation of a one-stop shop for the provision of services to potential investors such as licenses and other requirements. Investors are expected to start operating in February / March 2019 in the Fairgrounds Special Economic Zone.

Framework for implementation

Another SEZA director, Neo Mahube, said she is deliberately targeting "value-added" investors in SEZs, which are world leaders in the sector.

100% export oriented. "The minimum target for local and foreign investment should be more than 200 million Pd. Investors must be able to hold local businesses accountable through clusters of businesses, upstream and downstream links or We want companies proud of the social improvement of the national development and

Investors show empathy for Botswana's catalytic political transformation and are eager to revitalize economically disadvantaged areas, "Mahube said, adding that investors potential for strong growth, job creation, technology transfer and are geared towards export.

At the launch of the Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) on February 24, 2016, then-President Ian Khama said: "Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will be defined as geographically economic zones. distinct, providing an investor-friendly business environment that will make Botswana a prime location for domestic and foreign investment as well as investor confidence. SEZs operate with special administrative, regulatory and tax regimes that differ from the national economy. There are 7 such areas in the country; Francistown, Gaborone, Lobatse, Palapye, Selibe Phikwe, Tuli Block and Pandamatenga. These would cover the international activities of diamonds, specialized manufacturing, financial services, beef, leather and biogas, as well as mineral enrichment, value addition of coal, mining supplies, services and logistics, integrated agriculture, agri-food and food processing ".

[ad_2]
Source link