| Country Size: |
582,000 square kilometres |
| Population: |
1,680,863 - 2001 Census |
| Currency: |
Pula |
| Languages: |
English and Setswana |
| Capital City: |
Gaborone |
| GDP (US$): |
9.3 billion |
| Main Economic Sectors: |
Mining, Tourism, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Social and Personal Services, Banks, Insurance and Business Services, Construction, General Government, Water and Electricity and Trade, Hotels and Restaurants. |
| Main Exports: |
Diamonds, Meat and Meat Products, Hides and Skins, Copper & Nickel, Textiles, Soda Ash, Vehicles and Parts and Other Goods. |
| Main Imports: |
Food Beverages and Tobacco, Fuels, Chemicals & Rubber Products, Wood & Paper Products, Textiles and Footwear, Metals & Metal Products, Machinery & Electrical Equipment, Vehicles & Transport Equipment and Other Goods. |
| Industry (Main Industries): |
Agriculture and Forestry, Mining and Quarrying, Manufacturing, Fishing, Tourism, Electricity, Gas & Water, Construction, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Hotels & Restaurants, Transport, Storage and Communication, Financial Intermediaries, Real Estate, Public Administration, Education, Health and Social Work and Foreign Missions |
| Natural Resources: |
The natural beauty of Botswana is found in its wilderness, wildlife and cultural diversity. It includes range and arable land, a large wildlife population, and variety of minerals. Large areas of the country are designated as National Parks and Game Reserves. |
| Agriculture (Main Products): |
Crops: Sorghum, Maize, Millet, Beans & Pulses, Sunflower, Ground nuts and other crops
Livestock: Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Pigs and Chickens. |
| International Organization Member: |
UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the African Union (AU), and regional bodies like the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and Southern African Development Community (SADC). |
| Infrastructure: |
Botswana is landlocked.
Civil Aviation:
The Air traffic control system in Botswana was modernised in 2001 and other navigational facilities at Sir Seretse Khama Airport in Gaborone, Maun, Kasane and Francistown. The country has provided international standards for an efficient, secure and reliable air transport service. There are airports at Francistown, Gaborone, Ghanzi, Kasane, Maun and Selibe-Phikwe.
Road Infrastructure:
Botswana has a well developed and integrated road network to all towns and main district centres as well as adequate connections to neighbouring countries. The completion of a strategic ring road around the country from which feeder roads will radiate to various rural communities was a remarkable achievement. Out of the 8,761 km of national roads for which the Department of Roads is responsible, 6872 km were bituminised.
Communications:
In pursuance of liberal economic policies and in line with International trends in the Telecommunications industry Botswana adopted the Telecommunication Policy in December 1995. The main objectives of the policy were to achieve universal service, promote private sector participation in the development of the industry, and liberalise the industry. There have been tremendous changes in the telecommunication industry since the adoption of the Policy. These changes include an increase in teledensity, availability of Modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and services.
The Telecommunications Act, No. 15 of 1996, which established the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), will among other things monitor and promote the provision of efficient telecommunication services.
Railways:
Botswana Railways (BR) is responsible for the provision of local and regional rail transport in Botswana. It forms a crucial link in the regional railways system of the Southern African Region through links with Spoornet of South Africa and the National Railways of Zimbabwe. Botswana Railways provides a connection to Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi.
Links: www.cso.gov.bw , www.mwt.gov.bw , www.roads.gov.bw |
| Other: |
- Botswana has entered into Regional and International Trade Agreements; for example, she is a member of Southern African Customs Union (SACU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Trade Cooperation, the Cotonou Agreement and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreements.
- There are also several bilateral trade agreements between Botswana and other countries, the most important of which was the Botswana/Zimbabwe Trade Agreement.
- Botswana also benefits under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programmes from some developed countries.
- These include the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States of America (USA).
- The other important GSP programme is that of Norway through which Botswana exports Copper and Nickel.
- The Cotonou agreement is a successor of the Lome IV Convention and allows products from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to enter the European Union (EU) market free of customs duties, or at preferential rates of duty.
- For textile and apparel products, AGOA required beneficiary Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries to put in place counter-transhipment mechanisms called Visa System. The Visa System for Botswana was approved by USA in August 2001, following the amendment of the Customs and Excise Act.
- Botswana is a stable democracy with an excellent track record of governance since independence in 1966.
- Botswana has topped the list of the world's fastest growing economies since 1965. According to the World Bank, 1998 Botswana 9.2%, South Korea 7.3%, China 6.7%, Singapore 6.3%, and Hong Kong 5.6%.
- There are no foreign exchange controls in Botswana.
- Botswana is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), an economic grouping free of tariffs. It is also a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and serves as the headquarters of the regional organisation that has a market of 200 million people.
- There is well-developed legal system based on Common Law, which facilitates business and commercial activities.
- Standard and Poor's and Moody's in 2003 have given Botswana an investment grade sovereign credit rating higher than any other sub-Saharan African Country.
- Botswana has consistently invested a high proportion of its budget on education and skills training.
- The country has thriving domestic financial sector, which includes banks, insurance companies and a growing stock market.
- Botswana has acceded to international conventions and is strictly observing internationally accepted guidelines on combating money laundering and financial crime.
- Transparency International, in its Corruption Perceptions Index of 2003, rated Botswana to be the least corrupt country in Africa, and 24th least corrupt in the world.
- There are eight daily flights in either direction between Gaborone and Johannesburg - the major aviation hub on the continent. Travelling time is one hour.
- Botswana has invested in a world-class multi-service telecommunications system that facilitates provision of services remotely.
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