Empowering Botswana’s Entrepreneurs: A Reflection of CEEP’s Transformative Impact

Reflecting on the achievements of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP), one milestone stands out as a testament to our commitment: our CEEP loan book expanded by over 100% in a single year. This growth number represents the stories, opportunities, and possibilities we’ve created for citizen-owned businesses across Botswana.

This exponential increase symbolises our dedication to empowering entrepreneurs to drive Botswana’s economic growth. By addressing financing gaps and pairing them with capacity-building initiatives, we aim to help businesses not only survive but thrive.

What Is a Loan Book and Why Does It Matter?

A loan book, in simple terms, is the total amount of loans a bank has provided to its customers. With the growth of our loan book it meant we had committed substantial financial resources to support citizen-owned businesses. This isn’t just about providing funds—it’s about unlocking opportunities.

Imagine a small business owner in Letlhakane who dreams of scaling their poultry farm but lacks the capital to purchase incubators. Without financing, that dream remains out of reach. With CEEP’s support, that entrepreneur can expand, create jobs, and contribute to food security in Botswana. The increase in our loan book means more stories like this are being written across the country.

Empowering the Mining Sector: The Blagus Story

One of the most inspiring examples of CEEP’s impact is our partnership with Blagus, a citizen-owned contractor servicing Debswana. With a P34 million financing package, Blagus acquired large-scale mining equipment, significantly boosting its operational capacity. This financing has enabled the company to take on larger, more complex projects, cementing its role in Botswana’s mining sector.

The mining industry often poses significant barriers for citizen-owned businesses, such as high equipment costs and limited market access. By bridging these gaps, we’re ensuring that companies like Blagus can compete on an equal footing with international players. This is about more than just financing—it’s about fostering local participation in Botswana’s most vital industries and creating a ripple effect of economic empowerment.

Banking Problems vs. Market Problems: A Key Lesson for Entrepreneurs

Through CEEP, we’ve learned that many entrepreneurs struggle to distinguish between banking problems and market problems. This distinction is essential because it shapes the solutions that will drive success.

?Banking Problems: These arise when businesses lack the financial resources to grow. For instance, a tailor in Gaborone who cannot purchase additional sewing machines faces a banking problem. At Stanbic, we address this by offering tailored loans and financial education.

?Market Problems: These occur when businesses cannot generate or sustain demand for their products. For example, a vegetable farmer with sufficient funding but no buyers needs market access, not more loans. Through CEEP, we connect businesses to markets, supply chains, and retailers to ensure long-term viability.

Spotlight on the CEEP/SMME Grant Beneficiaries

In 2024, Stanbic Bank Botswana, in partnership with Debswana, launched a grant program under CEEP targeting SMMEs across our zones of influence. The response was overwhelming, with 1,396 applications received from the Orapa, Letlhakane, and Damtshaa Mines areas. Ultimately, 20 outstanding entrepreneurs were selected for funding, spanning diverse sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and environmental services.

Here are some key insights from this initiative:

?Empowering Women and Youth: Women made up 65% of the recipients, while the age range spanned 22 to 44 years, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity.

?Job Creation: These businesses are projected to create over 61 new jobs in their respective communities, directly improving livelihoods.

?Diverse Industries: From vegetable production to aluminium window manufacturing, these businesses are addressing community needs while driving economic diversification.

One standout example is a water purification business in Mopipi. With its grant, the business expanded operations to meet regional water challenges and secured orders from major institutions. Similarly, a vegetable producer in Letlhakane now supplies produce to Spar and Sefalana stores across the region, demonstrating how local entrepreneurs can address both local demand and regional opportunities.

Building a Holistic Framework for Empowerment

CEEP’s success lies in its ability to address challenges holistically. Our approach combines financing, capacity-building, and market linkages to ensure businesses can grow sustainably. Here’s how we do it:

1.Capacity Building: We provide training in business management, financial literacy, and proposal writing to equip entrepreneurs with the skills they need to succeed.

2.Market Linkages: By connecting businesses to retailers, supply chains, and customers, we help address market access challenges.

3.Inclusivity: We prioritise support for women, youth, and rural entrepreneurs, ensuring no one is left behind.

Moving Forward

As we look to the future, the success of CEEP reinforces a critical truth: empowering citizen-owned businesses is the key to Botswana’s prosperity. But we cannot do this alone. It requires collaboration between financial institutions, government, and the private sector.

To Botswana’s entrepreneurs, I say this: Be bold. Identify the challenges you face, whether financial or market-driven, and seek partnerships that can help you overcome them. Your success contributes to the broader story of Botswana’s growth.

To my colleagues in the financial sector: Let us continue to innovate, collaborate, and commit to addressing the challenges faced by our entrepreneurs. Together, we can build a Botswana where opportunities are abundant, and every Motswana has the tools to succeed.

This is the legacy we aim to create. The time to empower is now, let’s make it count.