After contractions in 2024 and 2025 driven by weak diamond demand, Botswana targets 3.1% growth in 2026 and is shifting from state-led to private, export-led growth under an 'economic transformation and fiscal prudence' agenda. An October 2026 state visit to China upgraded ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Government · leader
President Duma Gideon Boko (head of state and government); Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe
Key national agenda
- Diversification away from diamonds (NDP12 and the BETP transformation programme)
- Rebuilding fiscal buffers and revenue (e-invoicing, VAT on remote services, proposed top-bracket and corporate tax rises)
- Digital transformation, including a national e-procurement system
- Building manufacturing, moving beyond 'tenderpreneurship', procurement preference for local manufacturers
- Integrated energy, water and transport infrastructure
- Health reform (Central Medical Stores overhaul, phased National Health Insurance)
Government programmes
National e-Procurement System
Mandatory e-invoicing
Phased national rollout from April 2026
Botswana Mercantile Exchange (BMX) launch
Supports commodity pricing and diversification beyond diamonds
National Fund of Funds for MSMEs
SME financing vehicle expected to operate in 2027/28
100 MW wind farm north of Letlhakane
Consultancy tenders out for geotechnical, topographic and hydrological studies
Public asset rehabilitation and maintenanceBWP 1.85 billion
Budget for refurbishing existing public facilities
Presidential Business Roundtable
Launched March 2026; 10 of 18 sector meetings held; 24-week policy implementation cycle
Business opportunities
Public procurement digitalisation PMO and training package
The e-procurement system must go live within FY2026/27, creating strong demand for supplier and civil servant training.
Ministry of Finance, procurement regulator, SOEs
AI-based tax filing and e-invoicing automation
Mandatory e-invoicing pushes SMEs to look for accounting automation tools.
Local SMEs, BURS
MSME export and manufacturing accelerator programme
The President is openly calling for manufacturing and IP-based firms.
Trade ministry, SME support agencies, fund-of-funds managers
Public-sector AI policy and digital skills consulting
A Korea-Botswana AI/ICT cooperation channel has just been opened.
Communications/digital ministries, Office of the Vice President
Tenders
- Automated penetration testing and red-teaming solution (3-year annual billing) · Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) · Deadline 2026-11-06
- Geotechnical studies consultancy, 100 MW wind farm north of Letlhakane · Ministry of Minerals and Energy · Deadline 2026-11-11
- Topographic and hydrological studies and route survey for a wind farm site · Ministry of Minerals and Energy (estimated) · Deadline 2026-11-11
- Capacity building on multi-hazard early warning (MHEWS) gaps in member states · SADC Secretariat (Gaborone) · Deadline 2026-11-17
- Consultancy to develop the SADC Integrated Border Management Strategy · SADC Secretariat (Gaborone) · Deadline 2026-11-19
Korean support schemes
- EDCF cooperation talks · Export-Import Bank of Korea — At the September 2026 KOAFEC ministerial, Korea Eximbank discussed EDCF project pipelines and Korean company participation with Botswana's Vice President.
- Korea-Botswana AI and ICT cooperation · Ministry of Science and ICT — On 2026-09-10 Korea's Vice Minister met Botswana's Vice President on AI policy and closing digital divides.
- Southern Africa market entry support · KOTRA — There is no dedicated Botswana office, so market research and buyer matching go through nearby offices such as South Africa (estimated).
- Export Voucher · Export Voucher programme — Covers overseas market research, certification and local marketing costs via vouchers.
Official notices
Government of Botswana (gov.bw) / Daily News
- 2026-10-08 President Boko urges business to move beyond government tenders and invest in manufacturing at the Presidential Business Roundtable
- 2026-10-12 Higher Education Minister named Acting President during the President's China visit (10-18 Oct)
- 2026-10-13 Boko-Xi summit; documents signed on green mining, health and human resources
- 2026-10-29 Notices on passport fee increase and phased Qatar investment projects
Disaster · conflict · epidemic
Stable 2026-10-30
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