MITI and EU Delegation host a media briefing on the implementation of the EU-SADC EPA in Botswana

The Ministry of Trade and Industry, in partnership with the European Union Delegation to Botswana and SADC recently hosted a media breakfast briefing on the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Support Programme in Botswana at Phakalane Golf Estate Hotel & Convention Centre.

The EU-SADC EPA Implementation Support Programme is intended to capacitate and provide technical support to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Plant Protection, National Plant Protection Organisation, Botswana National Vaccine Laboratory, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, Botswana Unified Revenue Service, Botswana Bureau of Standards and Local Enterprise Authority.

Speaking at the briefing, Gideon Mmolawa, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, explained that the EU-SADC EPA is an agreement between 27 EU Member States, and 6 countries in SADC, namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. Angola is in the process of joining to become a 7th regional country to participate in the agreement.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly in the partnership, the EU has undertaken to provide technical and financial assistance to the SADC EPA countries to facilitate implementation of the Agreement. This financial assistance is targeted at both government and private sectors and is fully funded by the EU by approximately BWP 78 million in Botswana.

Most companies who have the potential to export to the EU market are very small and not well resourced to compete in the EU market. As a result, these potential exporters have competitiveness challenges including poor skills, lack of infrastructure, financing, as well as other supply side constraints.

The overall objective of the EU-SADC EPA Implementation Support Programme is to promote export-led economic diversification and growth in Botswana with improved employment in targeted value chains. The specific objectives are: Increased and diversified export of non-mining products to EU and/or regional markets, Enhanced enterprise and product competitiveness in the beef value chain and in other value chains where women’s economic empower can be strengthened as well as Increased Foreign Direct Investments in export-led economic growth sectors.

These objectives further covers a wide range of areas such as Market intelligence; Trade facilitation; Beef and Leather Value Chains; Investment promotion; Export Diversification of non-mining products; Enhance enterprise and product competitiveness, among others.

Under the Beef value chain, the aim of the Programme is to maintain and expand access to local and international markets for beef by consolidating the integrity of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free zone and develop exports from the FMD red zones. The Programme also covers the strengthening of private sector abattoirs capacity to implement good manufacturing practices (GMP), good hygiene practice (GHP), and hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) food safety risk management system to EU and international standards for market access.

According to Mr Clement Boutillier, European Union Delegation’s Head of Cooperation, the EUD is proud to be in partnership with the government of Botswana and work together to strengthen business associations as well as the SMME sector’s product development and capacity, as they are key economic diversification vehicles and solutions to job creation challenges, particularly after covid-19 impact.

“The media is a key stakeholder in ensuring that all sectors at all levels understand the EPA, its national implementation support programme, the benefits to SMMEs and to the country’s foreign direct investment opportunities in export-led economic growth sectors.” Said Clement.

He further explained that the objectives of the programme are fully in line with the transformation agenda of the country as well as the Economic diversification drive strategy.

The EU-SADC EPA Implementation Support Programme, in partnership with BITC and MTI are planning to organize the very first edition of the EU – Botswana Business Forum (EBBF) next year around June. This flagship event will highlight investment opportunities in Botswana especially in manufacturing and services. The opportunities can be used as a gateway to Southern Africa and beyond, taking full advantage of the quota-free and duty-free market access to the EU and other EPA states under the EPA agreement.