The Okavango District Council (ODC) recently hosted a business round table forum for various stakeholders that included the business community, government departments and parastatals to engage, network and encourage public private partnership.
The event was hosted under the theme ‘paving the way for self-sufficient communities’ with the mission to form strategic partnerships between the private sector and the council.
Council secretary Iris Sitayelo explained that the business forum was meant to launch the council and introduce it to the businesses community to attract investors by highlighting business opportunities available in the district.
Sitayelo further revealed that the forum was also meant to offer potential investors opportunities where they can partner with the council to develop some of their business plots in Shakawe and the refurbishment of the Gumare bus rank.
Meanwhile Sitayelo indicated that the district has challenges of accommodation, adding that the situation was bad in that the Council Chairperson and other council officials have no accommodation.
The Council Chairperson Gaopalelwe Ronald maintained that the forum will go a long way in the development of the district, adding that they have received proposals from individuals and financial institutions that are willing to invest in the district.
The main sponsor of the forum Access Bank’s branch manager Bob Makgetho revealed that the forum is vital to the growth of the district, adding the bank was honoured to be a part of such an initiative.
Makgetho indicated that Access bank prides itself in setting standards for sustainable business practices; to deliver superior values and provide innovation solution to the market and to the communities they serve in.
Other financial financial institutions that participated were First National Bank Botswana (FNB), Stanbic bank, Absa, Botswana Service Bank (BSB) and Citizen Entrepreneurs Development Agency (CEDA).
The Gumare sub land board secretary Balakidzi Nduna revealed that they are doing everything possible to allocate land to Batswana in the district adding that recently they have facilitated interviews for commercial plots.
“Very soon we will release the names of those who have passed the interviews for the commercial plots so that they can continue with their projects and businesses in the district,” he said.
