The Chobe Connect Investor Conference scheduled for Kasane end of March this year is expected to position Chobe District as a competitive investment destination aligned with national and regional development strategies.
The conference’s overarching objective is to mobilise investment, partnerships and policy alignment to accelerate sustainable economic growth in Chobe and the rest of Botswana.
In an interview, Special Economic Zones Authority Botswana (SEZA), Deputy CEO Thatayaone Ndzinge said the conference is a platform to showcase investment-ready projects in priority sectors, with a strong focus on the Pandamatenga Special Economic Zone SEZ. Pandamatenga is the agricultural hub and agro-processing SEZ of Botswana.
Ndzinge noted that the event aims to facilitate high-level dialogue between policy makers, investors, and development partners to de-risk and unlock capital. He said that through the conference they intend to promote agro-industrial value chain development, tourism regeneration, regional connectivity, and sports tourism.
Ndzinge also highlighted that the conference will strengthen collaboration around approved Botswana’s Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) projects in Chobe District.
According to Ndzinge, the conference will focus on key thematic themes that include Agro-Industrial Investment, Tourism Regeneration, Regional Connectivity, Sports Tourism and Pandamatenga SEZ Showcase.
He noted that a flagship feature of Chobe Connect 2026 will be the Pandamatenga SEZ Investment Showcase, highlighting investment-ready agro-industrial projects and the SEZ’s strategic role in advancing agro-industrial value chains.
He said that it would also highlight vocational and skills development opportunities supporting industrialisation, linkages between primary production, processing, logistics, and export markets, incentives, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure readiness.
Ndzinge has further expressed that the Chobe connect would provide a boost in terms of tourism spend (hotels, lodges, guesthouses, restaurants, transport & tour operators, catering). He said the conference is a platform for networking and investment opportunities for the local community.
He stated that the conference will branding and promoting Chobe as a hosting venue beyond tourism, and promote local participation and community inclusion in panel sessions.
