For more than five decades, Botswana’s mining sector has been the cornerstone of our nation’s economic growth. It has powered infrastructure development, created employment, and positioned Botswana as a beacon of stability and good governance across the continent.
As we turn the page to a new chapter in our development journey, it is clear that mining must evolve. The next phase of Botswana’s success will be defined not just by extraction, but by how effectively we transform our mineral wealth into broader economic value through innovation, sustainability, diversification, and most critically, local beneficiation.
Mining remains central to Botswana’s economy, but its true potential lies in its ability to catalyse growth in other sectors. The future of mining is not only about what lies beneath the ground, but also about the value we create above it. The sector must now serve as a bridge to industrialisation, manufacturing, renewable energy, and technology-driven opportunities.
Botswana is uniquely positioned to benefit from the global shift towards green energy and sustainable minerals. With rising demand for critical minerals to power clean technologies, our mining industry can play a leading role in this transition. However, success will depend on how well we strengthen value chains, enhance local beneficiation, and equip Batswana with the skills to participate meaningfully in emerging industries.
The Ministry of Minerals and Energy’s recent call to action on local beneficiation is both timely and necessary. It reinforces the need for Botswana to retain more value from its natural resources and to build industries that support long-term economic resilience.
At Absa Bank Botswana, we believe the financial sector plays a pivotal role in enabling this transformation. Our role goes beyond financing, we are a trusted partner helping businesses, communities, and government build capacity and unlock new opportunities.
Through our Sustainable Finance Issuance Framework, Absa became the first financial institution in Botswana to list a sustainable bond on the Botswana Stock Exchange. This milestone provides investors with opportunities to fund projects that advance environmental and social progress, while supporting Botswana’s national development priorities.
We have also supported the mining value chain through tailored financial solutions for contractors, suppliers, and entrepreneurs. By empowering small and medium enterprises within the mining ecosystem, we ensure that value creation extends beyond the mines themselves.
Our Citizenship Strategy, anchored on Education, Employability, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, and Inclusion, complements this work. We recognise that sustainable development begins with people. Through initiatives such as ReadytoWork, employee volunteering, and strategic partnerships, we continue to equip young Batswana with skills for careers in mining, engineering, digital technology, and finance.
Botswana’s path to diversification and beneficiation requires collaboration between government, the private sector, and communities. No single institution can achieve this alone. As Absa, we stand ready to partner with all stakeholders to build a resilient and inclusive economy. We continue to provide expertise and financial solutions that support sustainable mining, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and community empowerment.
As the Mining Summit takes centre stage, Botswana stands at the crossroads of progress. The conversation is no longer about what lies beneath the earth, but what we can build above it—a sustainable, inclusive, and technology-driven tomorrow.
The mining sector has laid the foundation of our economy. Now, it must power the next phase of growth, connecting resources, technology, and human potential. This is the journey toward shared prosperity.
At Absa Bank Botswana, we remain deeply committed to Empowering Africa’s Tomorrow, Together, One Story at a Time. We believe in Botswana’s potential and are proud to continue playing our part in turning that potential into lasting progress.
