TITLE:GLOBAL EXPO BOTSWANA 2006
Global Expo Botswana 2006 is an inaugural international business-to-business exhibition whose main focus is on the industrial and agricultural sectors.¡@¡@ This premier exhibition will be held from Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 October, 2006. The objectives of the Expo will be to among others: „]Provide exhibitors and visitors an opportunity to actively promote their businesses Taking place alongside this world-class Exhibition will be Buyer-Seller Meetings as well as an Investment Forum. This Global Expo will take place at Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre at Fairgrounds in Gaborone. For more information, call: Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre or visit www.globalexpo.co.bw
http://www.botswanaembassy.or.jp
„]Attract Foreign Direct Investment
„]Promote joint venture opportunities between citizens and foreign investors
„]Stimulate a culture of entrepreneurship locally
„]Promote exports of locally produced goods
„]Promote access to Botswana market for international exhibitors
Tel:00267-3181931
Fax:00267-3181941/3170452
No.14 2006/03/20 09:16
TITLE:BOTSWANA FOREIGN RESERVES GROW BY 43 PERCENT
According to this yearfs (2006) gIndex of Economic Freedomh, Botswana is Africafs freest economy. This is the seventh time in a period of eight years that Botswana has been placed in this position and it joins the top thirty (30) countries in the world for economic freedom. The gIndex of Economic Freedomh is published annually by the Heritage Foundation in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal. This year, it examined 161 countries and Botswana is now ranked alongside Norway and Portugal and ahead 131 other countries among them 20 European states examined in the report. In addition, Botswana retains an investment-grade rating from Moodyfs and Standard and Poorfs which is the highest in Africa and at par with or above that of some major industrialized countries in the world.
http://www.botswanaembassy.or.jp
No.13 2006/03/20 09:14
TITLE:BOTSWANA FOREIGN RESERVES GROW BY 43 PERCENT
According to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Baledzi Gaolathe, Botswana foreign exchange reserves increased from P24.2 billion to P34.7 billion as of November 2005. In US dollar terms, the foreign exchange reserves increased from $5.7 billion to $6.2 billion over the same period. This represents an equivalence of 27 months of import of goods and services as at the end of 2005. This was an increase from 22 months in 2004.
http://www.botswanaembassy.or.jp
No.12 2006/03/20 09:13
TITLE:2006 BUDGET SPEECH
According to the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Baledzi Gaolathe, the total proposed budget for 2006/2007 is P22.4 billion which is total increase about P16.2 billion over the 2003/2004 fiscal year at the beginning of the Ninth National Development Plan (NDP 9). A total of P5.6 billion of this budget will be spent on development projects. In addition, the budget outturn for the 2004/2005 financial year was an overall surplus of P574 million compared to a projected deficit of P1.43 billion in the revised estimates. This favourable outturn has been attributed to variations in both revenues and expenditures. The mining sector continued to be a major source of revenue and significant increases in mineral revenue were due mainly to a cumulative 19% increase in diamond prices in US dollar terms in 2004/2005 fiscal year. Although the original estimate for 2005/2006 reflected a balanced budget with a surplus of P112 million, revised estimates anticipates a budget surplus of P1.58 billion. This is due mainly to increased total revenues and grants. Revised total expenditure for 2005/2006 estimated at P20.1 billion reflects a decrease of P331.7 billion. Most of the under-expenditure in development expenditure has been attributed to capacity constraints both with the government and the private sector. Total revenues and grants for the year 2005/2007 are forecast at P24.4 billion. Mineral revenue constitute P11.39 billion or 45% of this projected revenue total. You can visit www.gov.bw for a full text of the Budget Speech.
http://www.botswanaembassy.or.jp
No.11 2006/01/05 16:16
TITLE:MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE ASSIGNS BOTSWANA AN “A2/A1” SOVEREIGN CREDIT RATING
In addition to its credit worthiness being evaluated by Standard and Poors, Botswana has also been rated by Moody’s Investors Service. In its 2005 Credit Rating Report, Moody’s Investors Service assign Botswana – A2 for long term currency debt, Prime -1 (P-1) for short term currency debt, and A1 for domestic currency debt. This sovereign credit rating and the “stable” outlook that Moody’s has assigned Botswana has remained unchanged since 2001. According to the report, the ratings are underpinned by a strong culture of fiscal prudence, low government and external debt and successful track record of development, based on the commitment of authorities to address social and economic challenges. On average, incomes and development indicators for the country continue to improve at rates which compare favourably with most countries. Similarly, the financial position of the country is significantly stronger than that of other countries on similar or even higher ratings levels. While Moody’s take note of the development challenges, the government of Botswana, amongst them the narrow economic base, the agency express cautious optimism that the work of the new Botswana Economic Advisory Council will bear fruit and alleviate these challenges.
http://www.botswanaembassy.or.jp