Youthful Corporate High Flyers Impress Minister
14-12-2009
The Assistant Minister of Finance
and Development Planning, Charles Tibone has said he is impressed with
the rising number of youth in high positions in the corporate world.
The minister said during his second familiarisation visit to the
Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gaborone
last week that it is a positive thing that more and more young Batswana
are taking part in improving the country's economy. He acknowledged the
fact that IFSC is an organisation predominantly run by Batswana. He
said that it is important for companies to empower Batswana and equip
them with the necessary skills for them to develop the country.
Tibone said the ministry and its parastatals have to come together
regularly to work as a team in order to fulfill their goal of improving
the economy. "We have to better manage our communication channels in
order to cement our current partnership. The IFSC has engaged different
companies from different countries with different products and services
under its accreditation," he said. The IFSC was established in 2003 and
has accredited 35 companies of which 25 have successfully commenced
regional financial and business operations. IFSC chief executive
officer, Alan Boshwaen said that 10 companies have dropped out due to
unforeseen circumstances. "Some of them dropped because of the global
economic crisis while some dropped to look for greener pastures
elsewhere," he said.
The remaining 25 IFSC operating companies have employed about 585
skilled financial and business professionals. The companies have
developed strong linkages with domestic economic interests and local
capital markets. To date three IFSC-accredited companies, Imara
Holdings, Letshego Holdings, and BancABC Holdings have successfully
listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE).
Boshwaen said that the IFSC is currently in advanced discussions
with several companies to establish operations in Botswana such as
Samstar Capital Management. He said the company is a joint venture
between Southern Africa Media Development Fund (SAMDEF) and UK based
Stargate Capital. "Samstar Capital will raise and manage funds that
they will invest in media and technology companies in the SADC region,"
he said.
Boshwaen added that the IFSC is implementing a Business Process
Outsourcing and Call Centre (BPO) stimulation programme. The programme
is aimed at developing an enabling environment to stimulate the growth
of the BPO and call centre industry in Botswana.
This year, IFSC
in partnership with Botswana Accountancy College (BAC), introduced a
UK-accredited BPO and Call Centre diploma course entitled Edexel B-TECH
to develop a trained skills base for the BPO and Call Centre industry
in Botswana. "A hundred young Batswana are currently enrolled in this
programme and they are sponsored by the Ministry of Education,"
Boshwaen said.By Nelson Direng
Correspondent Mmegi Online
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