As Botswana accelerates its economic diversification through its Vision 2036 strategy, the country’s new growth momentum is attracting increasing interest from European businesses. A delegation of 15 Belgian companies is visiting Gaborone to meet Botswana’s business community and explore the opportunities emerging from this new phase of economic development, while helping to open a new chapter in economic relations between the two markets.
For many years, Botswana was primarily associated in Europe with its diamond industry. Today, however, the country is writing a new chapter in its economic story. Through Vision 2036, Botswana is pursuing an ambitious agenda aimed at accelerating economic diversification, expanding industrial capacity, fostering innovation and strengthening its energy transition.
This transformation is drawing the attention of Belgian companies eager to better understand the opportunities offered by one of Africa’s most stable, predictable and business-friendly environments.
Against this backdrop, a delegation of 15 companies from Wallonia, the southern region of Belgium, organised by the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX), will be in Gaborone to explore new avenues of cooperation with Botswana’s public and private sectors.
The participating companies represent a broad range of strategic industries, including sustainable agriculture, water technologies, energy, industrial engineering, digital traceability, specialised mobility, critical communications and environmental technologies. The delegation includes companies such as Advagreen, Hydro-Invest, Korium Tech, CHLOROfeel, Neo-tech, John Cockerill Energy Solutions, Ecosteryl, iTraceiT, Stappert, Convergent, Zetes or Televic.
The programme includes business meetings with Botswana stakeholders as well as a roundtable discussion focused on the future of the mining sector, infrastructure development and the technological requirements associated with the country’s economic diversification agenda.
Economic exchanges between Wallonia and Botswana remain relatively modest, with Walloon exports to Botswana amounting to approximately €1 million in 2025. Yet this figure also highlights the significant room for growth in economic relations between the two regions at a time when Botswana is seeking to accelerate its economic transformation and attract greater investment beyond the diamond sector.
For the participating companies, Botswana’s appeal lies less in the immediate size of its market than in the quality of its business environment, the clarity of its long-term vision and the emergence of new opportunities in sectors such as energy, water, industry, logistics and sustainable agriculture. Many of these sectors are central to Botswana’s Vision 2036 agenda, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond diamonds, strengthen local value addition, support industrial development and create quality jobs for future generations. For the Belgian companies taking part in the mission, the objective is not simply to explore commercial opportunities, but also to identify partnerships that can contribute to the development of local value chains, skills development and long-term economic growth.
As the country continues its transition towards a more diversified and resilient economy, international technological and industrial partnerships are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting its ambitions. The discussions taking place this week are fully aligned with that dynamic.
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“Botswana possesses several strengths that make it particularly attractive to Belgian companies: a stable business environment, a clear long-term economic vision and a strong commitment to innovation and economic diversification. The Walloon companies participating in this mission are above all seeking to build partnerships, better understand market needs and explore the opportunities created by Botswana’s ongoing economic transformation.”
Pascale Delcomminette, CEO of the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX).