UAE emerges as Botswana’s leading export market
Business
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as Botswana's leading export market, according to the Statistics Botswana's latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) figures released this week.
The IMTS is an account of all business transactions of merchandise between domestic businesses and the rest of the world with global exports valued at P3 700.4 million leaving the country in the month of August alone. This shows an increase of 39.2 percent in exports compared to the revised July 2019 value of P2 658.9 million. Imports for the same August were valued at P5 071.2 million, showing a decline of 14 percent from the revised July 2019 value of P5 896 million.
The IMTS figures showed that the largest export market for Botswana's goods was the UAE. "The UAE was the largest destination of Botswana exports, having received 25.3 percent of total exports during August 2019," Statistics Botswana said in its IMTS report. Botswana mostly exported diamonds, which accounted for 87.3 percent of the total exports during the month under review followed by machinery and transport equipment which contributed 4.2 percent while meat and meat products, and salt and ash contributed 1.7 percent and 1.2 percent respectively. "India and Belgium followed (UAE) with 19.7 percent and 12.6 percent respectively. South Africa received 12.4 percent of total exports.
Asia as a regional bloc received 63.7 percent of Botswana's total exports," Statistics Botswana said. Asia was followed in the volume of exports by the European Union (EU), which accounted for 16.7 percent while the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) received 15.4 percent. SACU is a grouping of Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho. On imports into Botswana, SACU as a region contributed 78.1 percent of the total imports during August 2019.
"Most of the imports from SACU came from South Africa followed by Namibia accounting 67.4 percent and 10.5 percent respectively of total imports value for the month. "Imports from Asia and the EU regions made contributions of 10.5 percent and four percent respectively. Canada and the USA respectively contributed 3.7 percent and 1.5 percent of imports into Botswana. The country's imports were led by diamonds with a contribution of 18.2 percent followed by food, beverages and tobacco at 15.3 percent.
Machinery and electrical equipment, and fuel contributed 15.3 percent and 13.1 percent respectively of total imports during August 2019 while chemicals and rubber products contributed 10.9 percent," the Statistics Botswana report shows. The most imported commodity group from the SACU region was food, beverages and tobacco with a contribution of 19.6 percent and valued at P777.7 million following by fuel at 15.3 percent and valued at P605.5 million. "India was the main source of imports from Asia, having supplied 3.1 percent ( P155.2 million), followed by China, Russia and Japan with 2.3 percent (P117.8 million), 1.2 percent (P63 million) and one percent (51.2 million) respectively of total imports during the period under review.
"Canada and the USA supplied P187.3 million (3.7 percent) and 73.9 million ( 1.5 percent) respectively worth of imports to Botswana during August 2019." According to Statistics Botswana, the mode of transport that are mostly used in the country for international merchandise trade are air, road and rail. "Imports amounting to P3 514.8 million representing 69.3 percent of total imports reached the country by road during August 2019.
Air and rail transport accounted for 18.6 percent (943.7 million) and 12 percent (P610.5 million) respectively. During the period under review, 89.7 percent (P3 317.9 million) of total exports left the country by air, road accounted for 10 percent (P368.3 million) of total exports during the month," Statistics Botswana said. The IMTS remains one of the major contributing indicators of the performance of Botswana's economy and its competitiveness on the world market. The statistics are also used by Government institutions in preparing for trade negotiations with other nations.
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Business
Grit divests from Letlole La Rona
Grit Services Limited, a member of the pan African real estate group, London Stock Exchange listed Grit Real Estate Income Group is divesting from Letlole La Rona Limited (LLR), a local real estate company established by government investment arm Botswana Development Corporation over a decade ago.
The Board of Directors of Letlole La Rona Limited this week announced in a statement to Unitholders that Grit Services Limited (‘Grit’) has informed them of its intention to exit its investment in the company.
Grit has been a material shareholder in LLR since 2019. On 07 March 2023, Grit sold 6 421 000 linked units, representing 2.29% of the Company’s total securities in issue, at a market value of BWP 22 537 710.
This trade follows previous sales of 6.79% in December 2022, as communicated to Unitholders on 10 January 2023, as well as a further sale of 4.78% (representing 13 347 068 linked units) on 24 February 2023 to various shareholders.
In aggregate, Grit has sold 13.9% shareholding in the Letlole La Rona between December 2022 and March 2023, resulting in current shareholding of 11.25% in the Company.
Letlole La Rona said in the statement that the exit process will take place in an orderly manner so as to maintain stability of the Company’s share price.
The statement explained that Grit’s sale of its entire shareholding in LLR is in line with its decision to exit investments where it does not have majority control, or where it has significant exposure to currencies other than US dollar, Euro or hard-currency-pegged revenue streams.
“Grit has announced similar decisions pertaining to certain of its hospitality assets in Mauritius recently. The Company would like to advise Unitholders that it remains focused on long-term value delivery to all stakeholders” LLR said
In July last year as part of their Go-to-Africa strategy Letlole La Rona acquired an initial 30% equity stake in Orbit Africa Logistics, with an option to increase this investment to 50%. OAL is a special purpose vehicle incorporated in Mauritius, owning an industrial asset in a prime industrial node in Nairobi, Kenya.
The co-investment was done alongside a wholly owned subsidiary of London listed Grit. The Orbit facility is situated on a prime industrial site on Mombasa Road, the principal route south of Nairobi center, serving the main industrial node, the port of Mombasa and the industrial town of Athi River and is strategically located 11 kilometers south of the international airport and 9.6 kilometers from the Inland Container Depot.
Grit shareholding in Letlole La Rona was seen as strategic for LLR, for the company to leverage on Grit’s already existing continental presence and expand its wings beyond Botswana borders as already delivered by Kenya transaction.
Media reports have however suggested that LLR and Grit have since late last year had fundamental disagreements on how to go about the Go-to-Africa strategy amongst other things, fuelled by alleged Botswana government interference on the affairs of LLR.
Government through LLR founding shareholder – Botswana Development Corporation has a controlling stake of around 40 percent in the company. Government is the sole shareholder of Botswana Development Corporation.
Letlole La Rona recently released their financial results for the six months ended December 2022, revenue increased by 4% to P50.2 million from P48.4 million in the prior comparative six months, whilst operating profit was up 8% to P36.5 million. Profit before tax of P49.7 million was reported, an increase of 8% on the prior comparative six months.
“We are encouraged by the strong results, notwithstanding a challenging economic environment. Our performance was mainly underpinned by annual lease escalations, our quality tenant base and below average market vacancy levels, especially in our warehouse portfolio,” Kamogelo Mowaneng, Letlole La Rona Chief Executive Officer commented.
LLR reported a weighted average lease expiry period of 3.3 years and escalation rates averaging 6.8% per annum for the period ended 31 December 2022.Its investment portfolio value increased by 14% year-on-year to close the period at P1.4 billion, mainly driven by the acquisition of a 30% stake in OAL in July 2022.
The Company also recorded a significant increase in other income, predominantly due to foreign exchange gains on the OAL shareholder loan. “We continue to explore pipeline opportunities locally, and regionally in line with our Go-to-Africa strategy and our interest remains on value-accretive investments,” Mowaneng said.
An interim distribution of 9.11 thebe per linked unit was declared on the 6th of February 2023 for the half-year period to 31 December 2022, comprising of a dividend of 0.05 thebe and debenture interest of 9.06 thebe per linked unit which will be paid to linked unit holders registered in the books of the Company at the close of business on 24 February 2023.
Business
Stargems Group establishes Training Center in BW
Internationally-acclaimed diamond manufacturing company StarGems Group has established the Stargems Diamond Training Center which will be providing specialized training in diamond manufacturing and evaluation.
The Stargems Diamond Training Institute is located at the Stargems Group Botswana Unit in Gaborone.
“In accordance with the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS) which holds the principle that through education and skills development as well as the strategic alignment between national ambitions and individual capabilities, Botswana will become a prosperous, productive and innovative nation due to the quality and efficacy of its citizenry. The Training Centre will provide a range of modules in theory and in practice; from rough diamond evaluation to diamond grading and polishing for Batswana, at no cost for eight weeks. The internationally- recognized certificate offered in partnership with Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Training School presents invaluable opportunities for Batswana to access in the diamond industry locally and internationally. The initiative is an extension of our Corporate Social Investment to the community in which we operate,” said Vishal Shah, Stargems Group Managing Director, during the launch of the Stargems Diamond Training Center.
In order to participate in this rare opportunity, interested candidates are invited to submit a police clearance certificate and a BGCSE certificate only to the Stargems offices. Students who excel in these programs will have the chance to be onboarded by the Stargems Group. This serves as motivation for them to go through this training with a high level of seriousness.
“Community empowerment is one of our CSR principles. We believe that businesses can only thrive when their communities are well taken of. We are hoping that our presence will be impactful to various communities and economies. In the six countries that we are operating in, we have contributed through dedicating 10% of our revenues during COVID-19 to facilitate education, donating to hospitals and also to NGOs committed to supporting women and children living with HIV. One key issue that we are targeting in Botswana is the rate of unemployment amongst the youth. We are looking forward to working closely with the government and other relevant authorities to curb unemployment,” said Shah.
Currently, Stargems Group has employed 117 Batswana and they are looking forward to growing the numbers to 500 as the company grows. Majority of the employees will be graduates from the Stargems Diamond Training Center. This initiation has been received with open arms by the general public and stakeholders. During the launch, the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Honorable Lefoko Moagi, stated that the ministry fully endorses Stargems Diamond Training and will work closely with the Group to support and grow the initiative.
“As a ministry, we see this as an game changer that is aligned with one of the United Nations’ Six Priority Sustainable Development Goals, which is to Advance Opportunity and Impact for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). What Stargems Group is launching today will have a huge impact on the creation of employment in Botswana. An economy’s productivity rises as the number of educated workers increases as its skilled workmanship increases. It is not a secret that low skills perpetuate poverty and widen the inequality gap, therefore the development of skills has the potential to contribute significantly to structural transformation and economic growth by enhancing employability and helping the country become more competitive. We are grateful to see the emergence of industry players such as Stargems Group who have strived to create such opportunities that mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 on the economy,” said the Minister of Minerals and Energy.