Mohwasa Calls for End to Raw Resource Exports at Northern Trade Fair

Mohwasa Calls for End to Raw Resource Exports at Northern Trade Fair. Botswana must move beyond exporting raw resources if it is to build a resilient and self-sustaining economy, Minister for State President, Defence & Security Moeti Mohwasa told business leaders at the 30th Northern Trade Fair on Thursday.

Officially opening the Business Botswana Northern Trade Fair, Mohwasa acknowledged that the country’s reliance on mineral extraction has historically provided macroeconomic stability but cautioned that it has limited growth. “The era of simply digging up resources and shipping them away in raw form must end,” he said.

He urged aggressive diversification into high-value manufacturing, commercial agro-processing, and localized processing, stressing that these sectors are essential for long-term prosperity. Mohwasa also linked national stability directly to commercial success, noting that peace must be understood as “the presence of regulatory and physical certainty where an entrepreneur can deploy capital without fear.”

Outlining the government’s new direction under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), Mohwasa emphasized that the state’s role is shifting. “The BETP represents a decisive break from the past. The role of government is no longer to run commercial enterprises or act as the primary financier of economic activity. Instead, our role shifts decisively to being the facilitator, regulator, architect, and protector of an enabling market environment.”

In closing, Mohwasa challenged the private sector to lead the value chain revolution. He called for collaboration across heavy industries, technology innovators, and small-scale enterprises, stressing that government guarantees stability and institutional protection. “Take the calculated risks, invest heavily in local value addition, and let us build a prosperous, employment-rich New Botswana together,” he urged.

The theme of this year’s fair, “Value Chain Revolution: From Local Resources to Global Markets,” reflects the country’s ambition to transform resource wealth into sustainable economic growth.