Absa Bank Botswana, in partnership with the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA), hosted an Export Readiness Workshop at Woodlane Hotel on 11 June 2026, convening 30 high-potential SMMEs from across Botswana for a focused session on export development and growth.
This engagement delivers on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Absa and LEA earlier this year moving from strategy to execution by equipping citizen-owned enterprises with practical tools to access regional and international markets.
Delivered Today:
1. Business Banking Solutions– Patrick Maruping, Business Banking, Absa – introduced Absa’s tailored offering for SMMEs, covering transactional banking, digital platforms, and relationship support designed to scale export-ready businesses.
2. FX & Risk Management–Dr. Bose Mathanjane, Manager of Global Markets, Absa, unpacked foreign exchange solutions, currency volatility, and hedging strategies to help exporters protect margins when trading across borders.
3. Trade Finance & Working Capital –Bakang Lame Dinku-Letshelea, Business Development Manager – ESD, Absa, took entrepreneurs through key trade products including Overdraft facilities, Letters of Credit, Documentary Collections, and Call Accounts to fund export orders and manage cash flow.
4. Standards & Certification – Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) was on hand to guide SMMEs on product certification, quality standards, and compliance requirements for regional and international markets.
5. Export Logistics & Market Access – DHL Express, through its Go Trade Program, presented practical solutions on export documentation, customs clearance, last-mile delivery, and how SMMEs can onboard to reach global customers efficiently.
The workshop bridges the gap between export ambition and bankable execution. By bringing together LEA’s business development mandate, Absa’s financial expertise, BOBS’ standards guidance, and DHL’s logistics capability, we are ensuring SMMEs have the end-to-end support needed to compete globally.
Absa remains committed to Enterprise & Supply Chain Development as a catalyst for inclusive growth. Through partnerships with LEA, BOBS, and DHL, we continue to turn MoUs into measurable impact for Botswana’s entrepreneurs.
