Amanze Chinonye
Botswana and Nigeria are seeking to deepen trade and investment ties under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as business leaders call for targeted measures to create a more efficient and predictable environment for cross-border commerce, Prime Business Africa reports.
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Business Botswana Chief Executive Officer Tumi Mbaakanyi made the call while opening a high-level Botswana-Nigeria business forum in Gaborone, saying the countries’ longstanding diplomatic relationship provided a strong foundation for expanding trade, investment and private-sector cooperation.
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Mbaakanyi said the forum should move beyond discussions and produce practical outcomes that would enable businesses to invest, innovate and collaborate.
Held under the AfCFTA framework, the forum brought together private-sector companies and business-support organisations from both countries for direct business-to-business engagements.
Botswana Investment and Trade Centre Export Promotion Manager Calvin Ketshabetswe said businesses in the two countries could leverage their comparative advantages to develop new value chains, unlock investment opportunities and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills.
He identified agribusiness, mining services, manufacturing, logistics, financial services, digital technology and the creative industries as potential areas for increased cooperation.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Botswana, John Shama Shaga, said the AfCFTA provided an opportunity for both countries to leverage their respective economic strengths to expand trade and build resilient supply chains.
He pointed to Nigeria’s large consumer market as a significant opportunity for Botswana businesses, while saying Botswana’s experience in resource management could support mutually beneficial partnerships.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also called for greater participation by women, young people and small, micro and medium-sized enterprises in opportunities arising from AfCFTA implementation.
UNDP Botswana Deputy Resident Representative Josephine Lewis said businesses needed a better understanding of AfCFTA requirements, including rules of origin, goods classification, certification and market-access procedures.
The push for closer commercial ties comes against the backdrop of weak and volatile trade between the two countries.
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Available trade statistics show that Botswana’s exports to Nigeria fell from about $1.4 million in 2023 to $147,000 in 2024. Imports from Nigeria also declined from about $376,000 to $161,000 over the same period.
The figures underscore the gap between the economic potential of the two countries and the relatively limited scale of their bilateral trade, despite Nigeria’s large consumer market and Botswana’s opportunities in mining, services and value-added production.
The challenge now is to translate political goodwill and business dialogue into sustained commercial activity. Effective implementation of AfCFTA trade protocols, predictable regulations, efficient logistics, access to finance and transparent market-entry procedures will be crucial to expanding trade flows.
Stronger business-to-business partnerships could enable both countries to diversify their trade relationships, develop new value chains and create jobs, while advancing the broader objective of building a more integrated African market.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
