IN-DEPTH ANALYSES OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BY LEA REGIONS – PHASE IV: BRANCH LEA has completed three (3) phases of the study on the Assessment of Business Opportunities by LEA regions. The first two (2) phases identified business opportunities in all sectors of the economy in all the thirteen (13) LEA regions. Phase III of the study entailed in-depth analysis of selected identified opportunities for the Kasane, and regions in order to inform the organizational strategy. Following the approval of phase III of the study, LEA Management directed the conduct of phase IV to cover the remaining LEA regions Submitted to: Research Manager Services Submitted by: Research and Development Division Date of Submission: March 2014

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Assessment of Business Opportunities by LEA Regions Phase IV study is a follow up to Phases 1, II and III studies carried out in 2012. Phases I and II mapped business opportunities across the LEA 13 branch regions while phase III study carried out an in-depth analysis of the mapped opportunities for Ghanzi, Tsabong and Kasane branches. The current study’s main objective was to carry out an in-depth analysis of some selected opportunities at the 10 branches that were not covered by the Phase III study. This report presents the in-depth analysis of 3 business opportunities for Francistown branch. The analysis was aimed at validating the identified opportunities as well as establishing strengths, challenges and existence of supportive infrastructure and other services that could support the uptake of the identified opportunities in Francistown.

The criterion for selecting of opportunities in the current study was based on the ranking of the opportunities which was carried out through a workshop with the Francistown District Economic Development Committee (DEDC). The highly ranked opportunities were selected for in-depth analysis. Other factors that influenced selection related to, availability of raw material for the opportunity; availability of technical and financial support geared towards the opportunity; physical environment (i.e. soil, temperature, rainfall and vegetation) supporting the opportunity; economic and social strengths of the opportunity and the value chain position of the opportunity being considered.

With the above factors influencing selection of opportunities for further analysis, the three opportunities selected for in-depth analysis in the Francistown LEA region are Arts and crafts, tourism accommodation facilities and commercialisation of recreational parks.

LOCAL ENTERPRISE AUTHORITY Page ii of 7 Rev.:01 F: RDD: 11 OVERALL STUDY OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the study is to provide in-depth analyses of highly ranked identified opportunities for the Francistown branch region.

MAJOR FINDINGS

Out of the three business opportunities appraised for the Francistown LEA region; two of the opportunities are recommended for possible adoption and promotion by the branch. The two recommended opportunities are arts and crafts and tourism accommodation facilities. Recommendation of the third opportunity to be adopted for promotion by the LEA branch is on hold pending the finalised proposal by the Ministry of Local Government (MLG) to outsource recreational parks to the public for commercial use. Instead, the LEA through its Francistown branch should acquaint itself with the development of the proposal to explore avenues of how its clients can benefit from the outsourcing of recreational parks. Table 1 summarises the opportunities and factors that lead to their recommendations for promotion by LEA. Table 2 presents information on the pending commercialisation of recreational parks business opportunity for the Francistown region.

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Table 1 Francistown LEA region validated Opportunities

MAIN BUSINESS UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM SUPPORTIVE FACTORS OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITIES Arts and crafts . Establishment of Arts and crafts  Availability of raw materials. market centre.  Availability of technical support (MYSC, LEA, . Supply of arts and crafts MEWT, DFRR, Craft Marketing). equipment.  Existence of national Policy on culture.  The 2010 Presidential directive on procurement of arts and culture in Botswana  Transit population through Francistown to tourism destinations such as Maun and Kasane

Tourism . Supply of hospitality amenities. 1. Availability of commercial land Accommodation . Supply of furniture and 2. Adequate supply of portable water by the Water Facilities hospitality equipment. Utilities Corporation . Supply of food 3. Well-developed infrastructure . Supply of Cleaning materials . Shuttle services 4. Availability of institutional support (DOT, BTO, MoH, . Tour guide services LEA,CEDA,MTI and HATAB)

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5. Availability of technical support (MEWT, BTO, MoH, LEA, CEDA,MLG, BOBS, MTI, HATAB)

6. Influx of travellers due to lucrative business opportunities presented by the mushrooming of mines

7. Transit population via Francistown to tourism destinations such as Maun and Kasane

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Table 2 Francistown LEA region Pending Opportunity

MAIN BUSINESS UPSTREAM AND SUPPORTIVE FACTORS OPPORTUNITY DOWNSTREAM OPPORTUNITIES Commercialization of  Tea gardens  Availability of technical support (MLG-Francistown recreational parks  Conference facilities city council parks and recreations divison).  Exhibition parks  Availability of land in the form of parks.  Wedding Parks  Arts and crafts market centre  Curio shops  Picnic spots

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RECOMMENDATIONS

The recommendations being proposed for LEA management are presented below as per the 3 opportunities appraised.

Table 3 Recommendations Proposed for LEA Management

OPPORTUNITY RECOMMENDATIONS

Arts and Crafts 1. The LEA should promote the arts and crafts business opportunity by commercializing its operations for the Francistown region.

2. The LEA should lobby for the establishment of arts and crafts market centre

Tourism 1. The LEA Enterprise Authority should Accommodation promote a diversified hospitality industry in Facilities the Francistown LEA region.

Commercializing of 1. The LEA should follow the developments recreational parks related to the outsourcing of recreational parks to the public for commercial use by the Ministry of Local Government and Francistown City Council with a view to promoting the opportunity among SMEs.

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