President Boko Calls for Direct Procurement and Local Production to Drive Economic Growth

President Boko Calls for Direct Procurement and Local Production to Drive Economic Growth. President Duma Boko has urged government and citizens alike to rethink procurement practices and prioritise local production as a pathway to national economic self-reliance. Speaking at a recent public engagement, President Boko questioned the rationale behind sourcing essential medicines through costly third-party providers, stating that the government can and should procure such items directly to save public funds and increase efficiency.

“There is no need to pay inflated prices to middlemen when the government is capable of sourcing medicines directly,” he said, adding that such a shift could enhance transparency and accountability in the public health sector.

The President also highlighted agriculture as a cornerstone for sustainable development, calling on Batswana to return to their farms and contribute to food security. He revealed that the national school feeding programme will soon begin to rely heavily on locally grown produce, a move expected to boost demand for homegrown crops and create opportunities for farmers and agri-preneurs.

In a broader call to action, President Boko encouraged citizens to explore both domestic and international markets. “We must broaden our horizons. Business opportunities are not limited to our borders. Let us be proactive in identifying and seizing them,” he stated.

For Botswana’s entrepreneurs and business community, the President’s message signals a strong commitment to economic localisation, improved government procurement efficiency, and grassroots enterprise development.

Stakeholders in the agriculture, pharmaceutical, and export sectors are expected to benefit from the proposed changes, with increased support for initiatives that promote value addition and domestic supply chains.