PPC Botswana Head of Business Unit Tuelo Botlhole believes that a partnership between the private and sector can revive and create employment amidst current economic uncertainty and social challenges. He highlighted that the policy makers can prioritize local entities for national projects and in return the private sector increases employment and net growth.
The rate of unemployment has always been a cause of concern in Botswana even before the onset of the COVID- 19 pandemic which has exacerbated the situation.
“It’s time we as the industry captains came together to map a way of how we can solve this unemployment issue which has been building up for years and now it has heightened especially due to COVID- 19. What we can do as the private sector is to come up with packages and insights that would enable the creation of employment across industries. At the same time the government can create policies that will stop a number of imports and product dumping so that we produce various goods locally,” explained Botlhole.
He pointed out how indigenization plays a critical role in creation and driving economic viability. The private sector players should make it a priority to work closely with local suppliers on every level of production as it will create down- stream beneficiation.
Botlhole urged policymakers to be strict in regulating such initiatives because indigenization plays a critical role in the development of the country’s economy. He gave an example of how PPC Botswana has engaged with the local truck association by giving them transport and logistic jobs to members of the association. Over the years PPC Botswana has empowered a number of local community projects across the country, giving them a boost to be fully operational businesses that have created employment in their communities.
“In our industry local cement manufacturers are looking towards to maximizing local raw materials such as fly ash from Morupule, to improve value chain. If imported cement is cut off, we will see a huge increase of employment. This model is a is a partnership which works- Public-Private Partnership (PPP).