BiHub: Why Botswana?
Country Profile
Get started by familiarising yourself with a basic country profile.
AUS & BWA
Delve into the bilateral trade relationship, and see how it could assist you.
Doing Business in BWA
Finish your research by understanding local practicalities here.
ABOUT BOTSWANA:
With an average yearly growth rate nearly 4% over the last decade – and 5.29% before COVID-19 - Botswana has proved itself as a steady economy on the African continent. Growth in Botswana’s economy saw its GDP increase from USD 12.78 billion in 2010 to USD 18.36 billion in 2019, and with a Purchase Power Parity of USD 17,120 in 2019, Botswana is one of the few countries within the continent to sit above the global average. Despite COVID-19 impacting Botswana’s economy in 2020, the country is still well positioned to continue on its trajectory of further growth, with estimates showing that the country will grow its GDP by 7.4% and 5.9% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. As a country with a robust legal framework holding onto significant mineral wealth, Botswana is and will continue to be an attractive market to trade in.
Capital: Gaborone
Currency: Botswana Pula (BWP)
Population: 2.3 million (July 2020 est.)
Population Growth: 1.48% (2020 est.)
Language: Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)
Government Type: Parliamentary republic
Economic Overview: Botswana is a middle-income country with a heavy reliance on diamond exports; ranks as one of the least corrupt and best places to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Access and Logistics: Botswana is landlocked and bordered by Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Major airports for cargo include Sir Seretse Khama Airport in Gaborone. There are no major sea ports in Botswana, however Botswana Railways has inland ports that offer safe and cost effective movement of containerised cargo. These are Gaborone Container Terminal (GABCON), Palapye Container Terminal (PALCON) and Francistown Container Terminal (FRANCON) dry ports. Botswana has a network of rivers and wetlands however they are generally inaccessible for freight purposes. The rail network in Botswana is also limited but linked on the eastern side of the country connecting the dry port cities to the rest of the SADC region.
Embassy Contact Details
AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE IN BOTSWANA:
Telephone: +267 390 2996
+267 713 31550
Email: australia.consulate.botswana@gmail.com
The Australian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa is accredited to Botswana.
AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Telephone: +27 12 423 6000
