Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security has urged established business entities to buy locally produced goods and support government's quest to create employment.Minister Lefoko Moagi said this when officially opening the 34th Sefalana Shopper shop in Ramotswa recently.

Mr Moagi, who is also Ramotswa MP, said the opening of the new shop marked a major milestone in the country's pursuit to advance employment creation for Batswana and also boosting small businesses in the constituency.

"In no small measure I am convinced that through your quest for local empowerment you will surely buy locally produced goods including but not limited to vegetables, eggs, chicken, beef as well as water as we have abundance of such in our area. Besides the edibles we have local transporters who are looking at this development to tap income through transportation of goods," he said.

He asked Sefalana management to consider employment of locals within Ramotswa constituency and not only focus on non-skilled category but also shop management. He commended its management for ensuring that out of 68 employees of the new store, 95 per cent were from Ramotswa.

Mr Moagi also implored Sefalana management to strongly consider allowing small scale businesses to use space around the new complex.

He also asked them to consider engaging the Mogobane Irrigation scheme and other horticulture farmers to start growing products that would be used as raw products at Sefalana's envisaged oil refinery plant. He noted that the journey to deliver the project had its own challenges, key among them acquisition of lease from the cooperative society.

Giving an overview of the project Sefalana managing director, Mr Chandra Chauhan said they decided to go into retail business 10 years ago and were impressed by their history.

He said the Ramotswa project started three years ago after fruitful consultative meetings with relevant authorities.

He said they entered into a public private partnership with the cooperative society, which bore the newly opened store.

"Our policy is to rent from Batswana and not build property. Of our 35 stores countrywide only one belong to Sefalana. Our landlords are Batswana.

We encourage locals to develop their beautiful land and come to us so we can assist and make use of your beautiful land," he said. He said their ambition was to continue growing and taking their shopping experience to the remotest areas in Botswana.

Source : BOPA

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