REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. MOKGWEETSI E.K. MASISI PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA TO THE FIRST MEETING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT 09 NOVEMBER 2020 GABORONE Contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT ............................................................................................................................ 7 Global Economic Outlook .................................................................................................................................. 7 Domestic Economic Review and Outlook ....................................................................................................... 7 Inflation ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 Exchange Rate Policy ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Foreign Exchange Reserves ............................................................................................................................. 9 COVID-19 Response Plan ................................................................................................................................. 9 Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan ............................................................................................. 10 Decent Work and Investment Promotion..................................................................................................... 11 Youth Employment ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency ......................................................................................... 12 Botswana Development Corporation ........................................................................................................ 13 Botswana Investment and Trade Centre ................................................................................................. 13 SPEDU ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 Special Economic Zones Authority ............................................................................................................ 14 Local Enterprise Authority .......................................................................................................................... 15 Economic Inclusion and Empowerment ....................................................................................................... 16 Ease of Doing Business ................................................................................................................................... 16 Trade Facilitation ............................................................................................................................................. 17 The African Continental Free Trade Area ................................................................................................ 17 The Tripartite Free Trade Area ................................................................................................................. 18 African Growth and Opportunity Act ........................................................................................................ 18 Agricultural Sector ........................................................................................................................................... 18 Dairy .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development ..................................................... 19 Beef Cluster Development ......................................................................................................................... 19 Bio Security .................................................................................................................................................. 20 Smallstock Production................................................................................................................................. 20 Mining, Minerals and Energy .......................................................................................................................... 21 Mining ............................................................................................................................................................ 21 BCL Group Liquidation ................................................................................................................................ 23 Electricity Generation .................................................................................................................................. 23 Supply of Petroleum Products ................................................................................................................... 25 Tourism ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 Transport Sector .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Roads ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 1 Rail Transport............................................................................................................................................... 28 Aviation ......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Promoting Digitalization .................................................................................................................................. 29 National Backbone Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 29 E-Services.......................................................................................................................................................... 30 E - Minerals .................................................................................................................................................. 30 E-Health ........................................................................................................................................................ 30 E-Learning .................................................................................................................................................... 31 E-Commerce ................................................................................................................................................. 31 Ports of Entry.................................................................................................................................................... 32 Broadcasting Services ..................................................................................................................................... 32 Gabz Free WIFI............................................................................................................................................ 33 Internet Protocol TV ................................................................................................................................... 33 Research and Innovation ................................................................................................................................ 33 SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Social Protection .............................................................................................................................................. 34 Poverty Eradication .......................................................................................................................................... 34 People Living with Disabilities ................................................................................................................... 35 Gender Equity .............................................................................................................................................. 35 Rural Development .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Local Economic Development ........................................................................................................................ 37 Bogosi ................................................................................................................................................................ 38 Adequate and Affordable Housing ................................................................................................................ 38 Land ..................................................................................................................................................................