The Botswana Development Corporation used the 2026 Future of Mining Summit to argue for a new approach to mining-led development, saying the country’s next phase of economic growth depends on how successfully it transforms mineral resources into industries, businesses and jobs.
The corporation said Botswana’s greatest opportunity lies beyond extraction, with mineral beneficiation, downstream processing and investment in critical minerals forming the cornerstone of its investment strategy. Rather than financing mining projects in isolation, BDC is directing capital toward businesses and industries that expand the mining value chain and retain more value within Botswana.
Acting Chief Investment Officer Lorato Keseabetswe and Chief Financial Officer Maranyane Makhondo outlined during presentations how the corporation intends to support industrialisation by financing projects that strengthen linkages between mining and the broader economy.
Keseabetswe said mining remains one of Botswana’s strongest economic assets, but its long-term value will be determined by the industries it creates around it.
She said Botswana has an opportunity to move beyond exporting raw minerals by developing industries that process those resources locally, manufacture mining-related products and provide services that support the sector.
For BDC, she said, this means looking beyond the mine itself and investing in businesses that create employment, develop skills and expand Botswana’s industrial base.
Beneficiation featured prominently throughout the presentation.
Keseabetswe said adding value to minerals before export presents one of the country’s biggest opportunities to increase export earnings while creating sustainable jobs and supporting the growth of local enterprises.
He said stronger links between mining, manufacturing and logistics would help build a more resilient economy and reduce reliance on raw commodity exports.
Makhondo expanded on that vision by outlining the practical role BDC intends to play in financing Botswana’s mining value chain.
She said opportunities exist at every stage of the sector, from mine development and infrastructure to equipment financing, engineering services, logistics, mineral processing and downstream manufacturing.
Instead of concentrating investment at the extraction stage, BDC wants to support businesses that supply the mining industry and create additional economic activity across the country.
Makhondo said one of the corporation’s priorities is increasing investment in critical minerals and industries linked to the global energy transition.
As demand rises for minerals used in battery technologies, renewable energy systems and electric vehicles, Botswana has an opportunity to attract investment into processing and manufacturing activities that capture more value locally.
He said this represents an opportunity not only for mining companies but also for entrepreneurs, manufacturers and investors seeking to participate in the next phase of the country’s industrial growth.
To support these ambitions, BDC continues to offer a range of financing solutions tailored to different business needs, including debt financing, equity investment, mezzanine finance and guarantees, allowing the corporation to support projects at different stages of development. It also partners with other financial institutions to structure funding for larger and more complex investments.
Makhondo said funding decisions are guided by more than commercial viability alone.
The corporation also looks at a project’s ability to create employment, strengthen citizen participation, develop local industries and contribute to Botswana’s long-term economic transformation.
Projects that demonstrate strong management, realistic business plans and meaningful developmental impact remain central to BDC’s investment approach.
The summit also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in unlocking Botswana’s mining potential.
BDC believes industrialisation cannot be achieved by one institution alone. It requires partnerships between investors, mining companies, financial institutions, government and local businesses, each playing a role in building stronger value chains.
For the corporation, financing is only one part of that process. Equally important is supporting businesses that can grow into sustainable enterprises capable of serving both domestic and regional mining markets.
Botswana’s mining industry is evolving, with the focus shifting from extraction alone to creating greater economic value through beneficiation, manufacturing, innovation and industrial development.
BDC believes that the transition presents one of the country’s biggest economic opportunities.
By investing across the mining value chain, supporting industries linked to critical minerals and encouraging greater local participation, the corporation aims to help build an economy that is more diversified, more competitive and less dependent on the export of raw commodities.
