• Botswana and Mauritius to host business forum on March 20 in Gaborone

• Focus on ICT, fintech, finance, and services sectors

• Initiative aims to boost intra-African trade and cross-border investment flows

Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and Economic Development Board of Mauritius will convene a joint business forum on March 20, 2026 in Gaborone, as both countries seek to expand trade and investment links, particularly in high-value service sectors.

The forum will bring together public and private sector stakeholders from both countries, with discussions focusing on ICT services, fintech, banking, insurance, education, healthcare, and retail. According to BITC, the event will include business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-business (G2B) meetings aimed at facilitating partnerships and identifying joint investment opportunities.

The initiative comes as African economies increasingly look to services trade and digital sectors to drive growth and diversification. Mauritius has positioned itself as a regional financial and investment hub, while Botswana is seeking to expand its technology and innovation ecosystem beyond its traditional reliance on diamond exports. Strengthening ties between the two countries could support the development of cross-border services, financial flows, and digital business models.

According to the World Bank, services account for more than 50% of GDP in many African economies, but intra-African trade in services remains underdeveloped due to regulatory and market barriers. Platforms such as bilateral business forums are increasingly used to bridge these gaps by connecting firms and facilitating market entry.

The Botswana-Mauritius engagement also aligns with broader continental efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to boost intra-African trade by reducing barriers and promoting regional value chains. By focusing on sectors such as fintech and ICT, the forum reflects a shift toward knowledge-based industries and digital integration as key drivers of future economic growth.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang