The Chobe Connect 2026 Investor Conference has highlighted vast investment opportunities across five strategic pillars: agribusiness, tourism, financial services, energy development, and infrastructure and logistics.
The high-level event, organised by the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) in partnership with First National Bank Botswana (FNBB), aims to position the Chobe District as a premier regional investment hub.
Delivering the keynote address in Kasane this week, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe stated that Chobe Connect is about unlocking the district’s true potential. He noted that the region and its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) represent a national test of whether Botswana can move from policy frameworks to productive outcomes.
“Chobe represents more than geography; it represents convergence. It is where agriculture meets processing, where tourism meets investment, where logistics meets regional trade corridors, and where natural endowment meets economic opportunity,” he said.
The Vice President highlighted that Chobe stands as one of the most strategic tourism corridors in Southern Africa, situated at the confluence of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. He emphasised that the district is uniquely positioned to become a multi-country tourism and logistics hub, seamlessly connecting visitors and trade across borders.
“Chobe is home to Botswana’s breadbasket, where agro-production creates endless opportunities for agro-processing and manufacturing,” Gaolathe added. He urged investors and financiers to establish facilities in Pandamatenga, noting that 40,000 hectares have been earmarked for expansion under the Agro-Zambezi Project, alongside 108 hectares specifically allocated to SEZA for agro-processing.
Gaolathe also touched on financial reforms, stating that the government is establishing new investment vehicles and sovereign structures designed to mobilise long-term capital for large-scale projects. He assured global investors that Botswana’s macroeconomic stability and transparent governance make it one of Africa’s most secure destinations for project finance.
“To global investors and financial institutions, let me assure you that Botswana offers a range of competitive advantages through its macroeconomic stability, and with a strong and predictable regulatory environment and transparent governance systems,” he said.
Regarding energy security, the Vice President described it as fundamental to the country’s transformation. He noted that Botswana’s high solar irradiation levels position it to become a renewable energy hub for the region. “There is no better place to establish large-scale solar projects than here in the Chobe District, which is blessed with abundant sunlight,” he concluded.
