The inaugural Exporters Forum – a partnership of Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC), Stanbic Bank Botswana and Econsult – has the potential to unlock opportunities that lie in the global value for local exporting businesses, says the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Bogolo Kenewendo. Kenewendo said this when officiating at the first ever Exporters Forum on Thursday, saying the export trade plays a crucial role in contributing to the country’s economy. She is of the view that the export trade should be leading in driving robust economic growth; hence there is a need to ignite a vibrant export market with diversified export products. “The MITI is keen on development of three sectors of business being the SMMEs, Investment and export business. It is important to move from the traditional exporting of products such as beef and diamonds,” she added. Kenewendo said there are indigenous products that can be tapped into for export diversification such as the Sengaparile plant, which is in demand in the European markets. Moreover MITI – according to the minister – is playing a central role in ensuring that there is financing as well as training of exporters such as the Botswana Export Development Programme (BEDP)…