A US-based company, Brite Star Aviation, has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a number of government agencies in preparation for the set-up of an aircraft manufacturing plant in Selebi-Phikwe. The MOU was signed between the company and SPEDU, Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Selebi-Phikwe Town Council, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and the Ngwato Land Board. Brite Star CEO, Imre Katona, said the company will set up a manufacturing plant as well as a pilot training school. The company has a number of operations in the US, Hungary and China. The Phikwe operation will be the first in Africa. Katona also confirmed that they will create 3000 jobs in the next five years and help train locals in collaboration with BIUST. It is expected that the company will manufacture from two-seater to 20-seater aircrafts at an assembly plant to be launched at the Selebi-Phikwe airport. Government has come under pressure to rescue the fortunes of Selebi-Phikwe following the closure of BCL mine last year which was the livewire of the town with over 4000 employees. Government moved to close the mine when it felt that the cost of running…