Business Botswana Pushes for Stronger Regional Integration

Business Botswana Pushes for Stronger Regional Integration. Business Botswana CEO, Ms. Boitumelo Tumie Mbaakanyi, delivered a powerful presentation at the Botswana–South Africa Business Forum, calling for accelerated economic cooperation and practical solutions to strengthen regional integration.

Speaking at the forum, Mbaakanyi emphasized the need to move beyond dialogue and focus on implementation that unlocks trade, investment, industrialisation, and sustainable growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

She highlighted that stronger regional integration is essential for positioning Southern Africa as a competitive and connected economic bloc. The forum discussions underscored the importance of infrastructure development, trade facilitation, regional value chains, and public-private collaboration in driving economic transformation.

Mbaakanyi noted that while progress has been made, challenges remain in aligning policies and ensuring that commitments translate into tangible outcomes. She urged stakeholders to prioritize actionable strategies that can deliver measurable benefits for businesses and citizens across the region.

The Botswana–South Africa Business Forum served as a platform for leaders, policymakers, and private sector representatives to exchange ideas on how to deepen cooperation. By showcasing opportunities for collaboration, the forum reinforced the role of regional partnerships in advancing inclusive growth and resilience in a rapidly changing global economy.

Business Botswana’s advocacy reflects its broader mission to champion the interests of local enterprises while promoting Botswana’s integration into regional and continental markets.