BDC AND BADEA ADVANCE €100 MILLION FINANCING PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT PRIVATE-SECTOR GROWTH AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) have signed Statements of Intent for financing facilities totaling €100 million (approximately BWP1.5 billion), marking a significant step towards unlocking investment, accelerating private-sector growth, and expanding opportunities for citizen participation in the economy.

The proposed financing package includes a €40 million long-term Private Sector Facility to support commercially viable businesses and profit-oriented state-owned enterprises, alongside a €60 million revolving Trade Finance Facility that will strengthen access to working capital and support the procurement of essential goods, including medicines, medical consumables, equipment, and spare parts for hospitals.

This landmark partnership strengthens BDC's capacity to finance businesses that drive economic diversification, expand local value chains, create sustainable employment, and enhance Botswana's global competitiveness. The signing also coincided with the announcement of BDC's strengthened Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme, an innovative transaction-based financing model designed to enable qualifying, wholly citizen-owned enterprises with confirmed commercial opportunities to access the capital needed to deliver contracts, build credible track records, and grow into larger markets.

The proposed facilities align with the objectives of Botswana's Twelfth National Development Plan and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, reinforcing the critical role of the private sector in driving inclusive economic growth, industrialisation, and long-term national prosperity. At BDC, we remain committed to mobilising strategic partnerships and sustainable financing solutions that empower businesses, create jobs, and build a more resilient, diversified, and prosperous Botswana.