Botswana’s economy is in reasonably good shape as economic growth continues to expand at a healthy pace. According to the latest available data, real GDP rose by 7.1% year on year in the third quarter of 2013, and is estimated to grow by around 6% for the year as a whole. Also, the government is on target to eliminate the budget deficit in fiscal year 2013/14 (April-March) and the current account is likely to post a surplus in 2013. The...

The contribution of the tourism sector to economic growth in Botswana has been stifled in recent years by fall-out from the global recession as well as the legacy of years of under-investment in infrastructure and staff training to raise standards in the sector. However, a recent study by the World Bank suggests that Botswana is amongst the best placed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to grow the sector rapidly over the next five years. There...

Botswana has relied upon diamond mining for economic growth and political stability for many years. Diamond mining currently accounts for over one-third of GDP, the vast majority of export earnings, and about half of the government’s revenues. However, the drive for greater economic diversification is gathering pace as diamond production is expected to levels off over the next decade and reserves are set to run out in around 20 years’ time. As...