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The Botswana Government, through the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Anglo American, Debswana and De Beers Global Sightholder Sales to underpin the continued expansion of the Tokafala Enterprise Development programme.

Tokafala is a collaborative effort geared towards promoting economic diversification and job creation in Botswana through personalised business mentoring, advisory support tailored to the specific needs of the enterprise, and facilitating access to finance and market for clients.

The MoU establishes principles of cooperation under which the partners will work together to continue expanding the Tokafala programme to support the growth of small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in Botswana, as well as for capacity building of select Government enterprise development institutions.

Launched as a pilot programme in January 2014, the Tokafala partnership has already delivered significant performance improvements for participating businesses. This has included strong revenue growth, with participants growing revenues by an average of 39 per cent in the first two years of Tokafala’s operation. Micro-sized businesses were the biggest beneficiaries, growing by an average of 260 per cent during this timeframe.

In addition, the programme has supported more than 1,500 jobs, including the direct creation of more than 280 jobs. Participants have also received significantly improved access to finance, with more than BWP11 million being accessed from commercial sources.

Vincent T Seretse, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our very successful partnership with Anglo American, De Beers Global Sightholder Sales and Debswana to further expand the reach and impact of the Tokafala Business Development Initiative through the signing of this MoU.

“The further diversification of Botswana’s economy and the creation of new jobs for Batswana is a key priority for Government. We are delighted to have the support of our valued private sector partners Anglo American, Debswana and De Beers Global Sightholder Sales to assist us in achieving these goals and we look forward to growing the already successful Tokafala programme together.”

Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “A strong and vibrant business community benefits the whole of Botswana. Through the Tokafala programme, and our strong partnership with Government, we are providing a pathway to enable motivated small and medium-sized businesses realise their growth potential and contribute to a strong and diversified economic future for Botswana.”

Bruce Cleaver, CEO, De Beers Group, said: “As longstanding partners, Botswana’s interests are also our interests and, through this MoU, our partnership will be able to support even more Botswana enterprises achieve commercial success through improved market access, supply chains and access to finance.”

Balisi Bonyongo, Managing Director, Debswana, said: “We have been very pleased with the success of the Tokafala programme to date and look forward to the next phase of the programme, part of which will focus on Debswana’s mining sites. We believe this is critical as it adds enterprise and business development to the legacy that we would like to leave in the areas around our mines and across Botswana in general.”

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CONTACT

Kaelo Kaelo
Chief Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry
T: +267 360 1330
M: +267 7391 0585
E: [email protected]

Nicole Senuku
Corporate Affairs Specialist, De Beers Group
T: +267 371 6417
M: +267 7137 4206
E: [email protected]

Boikhutso Malela
Corporate Affairs Manager, Debswana Diamond Company
T: +267 364 8057
M: +267 7139 0947
E: [email protected]

ABOUT ANGLO AMERICAN

Anglo American is a globally diversified mining business. Our portfolio of world-class competitive mining operations and undeveloped resources provides the raw materials to meet the growing consumer-driven demands of the world’s developed and maturing economies. Our people are at the heart of our business. It is our people who use the latest technologies to find new resources, plan and build our mines and who mine, process and move and market our products to our customers around the world.

As a responsible miner – of diamonds (through De Beers), copper, platinum and other precious metals, iron ore, coal and nickel – we are the custodians of what are precious natural resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders and for the communities and countries in which we operate – creating sustainable value and making a real difference. www.angloamerican.com.

ABOUT DEBSWANA

Debswana Diamond Company was established in 1969 and is owned in equal shares by the Botswana Government and The De Beers Group of Companies. It is the world’s largest diamond producer by value and second largest by volume. Debswana operates four diamond mines in Orapa, Letlhakane, Jwaneng and Damtshaa. Debswana is a major contributor to the national economy of Botswana – contributing significantly to the gross domestic product, foreign exchange earnings and government revenue. It is one of the largest private sector employers, with over 5,200 employees. Debswana is also the biggest contributor to the De Beers Group rough diamond production. The company is committed to mining safely, optimally and responsibly, as well as making a meaningful contribution to the development of the communities around its mines and the nation at large, thus leaving a lasting legacy. For further information visit www.debswana.com.

ABOUT DE BEERS GROUP

De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. As part of the company’s operating philosophy, the people of De Beers Group are committed to ‘Building Forever’ by making a lasting contribution to the communities in which they live and work, and transforming natural resources into shared national wealth. For further information about De Beers Group, visit www.debeersgroup.com.