MYGA and BEMA Sign Five-Year MoU to Boost Youth and Women in Manufacturing

MYGA and BEMA Sign Five-Year MoU to Boost Youth and Women in Manufacturing. The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs (MYGA) and the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive empowerment for youth and women in the country’s manufacturing and export sectors.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held this afternoon, MYGA Permanent Secretary Bridget Poppy John described the agreement as a milestone towards aligning government-led empowerment strategies with private sector opportunities. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to expanding initiatives that offer meaningful participation for Botswana’s youth and women in industrial growth.

BEMA CEO Mmantlha Sankoloba emphasized that the MoU establishes a practical partnership built on inclusion, collaboration, and economic action. “This agreement represents real economic progress that occurs when government and industry join forces with intent,” she said.

The five-year partnership will focus on skills development, industrial training, business incubation, and improving access to local and international markets. Entrepreneurs can expect capacity-building efforts designed to enhance competitiveness, increase exports, and foster job creation—particularly in sectors traditionally underrepresented by young people and women.

Ms. Sankoloba highlighted that BEMA’s role will now extend beyond trade facilitation and advocacy to include mentorship and enterprise development, supporting a new generation of manufacturers and exporters.

BEMA, a key industry body, supports its members through services such as market access facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable employment creation. This MoU signals a deeper public-private collaboration aimed at unlocking Botswana’s industrial potential.

The implementation period is set for five years, with both parties expected to monitor progress and ensure delivery of measurable outcomes that support inclusive economic development.