Financial services provider FNB Botswana (FNBB) and fuel logistics firm Petrohyper have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aimed at unlocking finance for citizen-owned small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in the bulk fuel transportation and logistics sector.
Resego Keipidile, Business Development & Strategic Partnership Lead at FNBB, said the partnership creates a structured ecosystem that enables small businesses to access funding without traditional collateral requirements.
Under the agreement, Petrohyper will onboard participating firms into its fuel logistics supply chain through formal contracts, while the bank will provide financing to qualifying enterprises, subject to internal approval processes.
The funding model is supported by a cession agreement annexed to the MOA. Businesses awarded contracts will cede proceeds from those contracts to the lender, enabling it to extend funding without security or upfront deposits. In addition, participating enterprises will benefit from the bank’s entrepreneurship development programme to help them scale sustainably.
Keipidile said the intended outcomes include job creation, the growth of beneficiary firms beyond P10 million in turnover, and increased citizen participation in a sector historically dominated by foreign entities. He noted that the broader objective is to create a functioning ecosystem where funding is more accessible and local enterprises are positioned to compete in a strategic economic sector.
FNBB Chief Executive Officer Steven Bogatsu said the initiative forms part of the institution’s wider commitment to citizen economic empowerment and economic diversification. He emphasised that SMMEs remain the anchor of Botswana’s diversification agenda and are critical to employment creation.
Bogatsu stressed that citizen economic empowerment cannot be driven by government alone but must be carried by the entire corporate community. He added that the bank is deliberately diversifying its balance sheet by increasing exposure to small businesses alongside large corporates, describing the MOA as a practical step in turning long-standing commitments into tangible solutions.
Petrohyper Director for Business Development Tshedukani Elijah described the signing as a significant milestone for the citizen-owned oil company. He said that although the company is still youthful, promoting citizen participation has always been one of its core values.
Elijah noted that access to finance has been the most integral missing piece in empowering local enterprises within the fuel sector. He said the agreement signals alignment between institutions committed to supporting citizens who require financial assistance, but emphasised that the true measure of success will be implementation.
