info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from Weekend Post
It is reported that the Botswana Railway (BR), Business Botswana and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) have jointly organized an interactive meeting with potential investors. According to reports, the country's railway line is seeking 15 billion pesos to invest in infrastructure development.
As Botswana yearns to advance into high income economy by taking advantage of available natural resources and exploring possible partnerships models to develop industrial and labour-intensive sectors that can absorb many of its unemployed citizenry, infrastructures registers as one of the key missing factors that are desperately imperative in connecting the puzzle in realising the nations's economic aspirations.
The two projects are the Mosetse-Kazungula and Mmamabula-Lephalale railways links. These projects which are estimated at P15 billion stands to push amongst others Botswana Coal industry which is currently at infant stage despite increasing global demand. The coal resources in Botswana are estimated at over 200 billion tonnes of deposits underground. Currently not even a quarter is unearthed.
The Mosetse-Kazungula project is positioned to provide a railway line from Mosetse in Botswana, connecting to Zambia and beyond through the Kazungula bridge. The rail line is part of the North South Corridor (NSC) with numerous benefits such as being gate-way to North African markets promoting inter regional trade, connecting North African region to maritime ports in South Africa, reduction of haulage traffic on roads amongst others.
Botswana railways chief Leonard Makwinja added that the project cultivates an opportunity for tourism industry by providing for tourist trains as it runs through a wildlife rich area with various attractive landscapes and natural beauty of Chobe region.
Leonard Makwinja explained that Botswana Railways is open to partner with Chinese potential investors noting that the recent State Visit to China by President Masisi has indicated capacity and willingness to participate by Chinese Government.
