Botswana official calls for more Chinese investment in glass

Source: Xinhua | 05-20-2008 08:50

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A Botswanian official called for more Chinese companies and entrepreneurs to invest in her country's glass manufacturing industry here on Monday.

"Sino-Botswana trade has been growing steadily. We can look at the industries in Botswana where they have Chinese companies -- initially construction, production industries soon, and they are now looking at the possibility of glass manufacturing," said Dorcas Makgato-Malesu, Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

"Botswana has abundant resources of silicon, which can be used in the glass industry. There will be quite a number of companies that are interested in that," she said.

She said she is very optimistic about the momentum of growing trade between China and Botswana.

"I'm very optimistic. China is an emerging economy ... those who are not in China now looking for opportunities will soon be out of the ball game in the not so distant future," she said.

She said her country has favorable investment policies including tax incentives and holidays and offered training subsidies for investors.

"One thing that is particularly attractive (for the investors) is that when companies come to Botswana, the government will provide 200 percent subsidies for training and provide facilities either to get into or get out of Botswana, such as visas and work permits," she said.

She also emphasized that the country's strong economy and stable democracy make it attractive.

In an earlier interview with Xinhua, Naomi Ellen Majinda, the ambassador of Botswana to China, said Botswana welcomes China's investment in the fields of glass-producing, leather-making, jewellery-polishing and textile processing.

To push forward investment cooperation, Majinda paid visits to 28 Chinese cities in two years, and traveled to Zhejiang Province several times to learn from local businessmen and discuss the cooperation issue.

China and Botswana have witnessed a huge increase in bilateral trade, from the initial 300,000 to 500,000 U.S. dollars in 1982 to62.52 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

Editor:Du