Botswana Economic Research Highlights

Economic News & Views on Africa

Ali Boumediene, CEO, Bomare

On boosting Algeria’s potential to export technology to new markets

Jayson Sechele, Director of Policy and Planning, Special Economic Zones Authority Botswana

On how special economic zones contribute to the wider economy

Emerging markets look to capture a larger share of the aviation market

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With global aviation passenger numbers rebounding, emerging markets are looking to capture market share through increased investment and sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). As OBG reported in February, tourism figures rebounded in 2022, thanks to the easing of Covid-19-related restrictions and increased investment in tourism. The sector’s recovery is set to continue, with international tourist arrivals likely to reach 85-90% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Revenue is also on the upswing for the global aviation industry after an...

African gas suppliers look to meet Europe’s future LNG demand

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As the EU works to rebalance its gas supply away from Russia, African countries are expected to gain a larger share of the bloc’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) market in the coming years. Last month the EU announced that it would launch the first tenders for joint gas purchases in April, with contracts expected to be signed by June. This novel approach seeks to leverage the bloc’s purchasing power to secure supplies at lower prices ahead of the summer when EU countries are expected to refill their underground gas storage...

The future of commercial drone delivery in global and local supply chains

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Emerging markets are capitalising on commercial drone technology to overcome logistics challenges and revolutionise supply chains for many goods and services, with expected benefits for last-mile delivery. While unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are often associated with military usage, commercial UAV usage has grown substantially in recent years as e-commerce and logistics companies increasingly look to drones to enable more efficient delivery. Research firm GlobalData predicts that commercial drones will replace...

In infographics: Boosting local value added in agricultural commodities in Côte d’Ivoire

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Côte d’Ivoire agriculture sector, which accounts for roughly one-fifth of GDP and employs two-thirds of the population, is a core sector of the economy with global significance. The country is a key exporter of cocoa, cashew nuts, palm oil, bananas, coffee, rubber, kola nuts and cotton. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s leading cocoa producer and shares the title of number-one cocoa grinder with the Netherlands. It is also the top cashew nut exporter and was the leading producer of sweet bananas in 2017. However, relatively little of what...

Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)

On leveraging economic zones to bolster development

How agri-tech start-ups are driving investment in emerging markets

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Even as global funding levels drop, agri-tech start-ups remain a key driver of investment in emerging markets as they work to make farming greener, more productive and more climate resilient. Global investment in agri-tech start-ups totalled $10.6bn in 2022, down 13% from 2021 – a record funding year for global start-ups – but ahead of the 2020 figure of $7bn. This matched a general downwards trend in venture capital activity, as investors became more cautious amid global headwinds and deepening fears of recession...

Emerging economies aim to maximise resources with a four-day work week

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With the Covid-19 pandemic having changed how people learn, shop and do business, many markets and companies are experimenting with new ways to unlock potential productivity while improving workforce well-being. A recent study organised in the UK by non-profit 4 Day Week Global looked at the effects of a four-day work week at 61 companies with a total of around 2900 workers from June to December 2022. The pilot programme included both non-profit and private firms in sectors including...