BOTSWANA BREAKS GROUND ON NEW BOTSWANA CITY: A LANDMARK INVESTMENT IN ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), in partnership with ALBADDAD Holding, has marked a historic milestone with the groundbreaking of New Botswana City, a P25.5 billion mixed-use development within the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport Special Economic Zone, officially launched by His Excellency President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko. One of Botswana’s largest private-sector-led investments, the development will be anchored by the 124,000-square-metre ALBADDAD Botswana Global Exhibition and Convention Centre, the country’s first international-standard exhibition and convention destination, alongside integrated business, hospitality, residential, retail, and smart-city infrastructure. As the government’s investment partner, BDC is contributing strategic land and retaining a ring-fenced 5% golden equity shareholding to ensure Botswana participates in the project’s long-term value. The development is expected to create thousands of jobs, empower local suppliers and SMMEs, facilitate skills transfer, stimulate tourism, and attract investment. Reflecting BDC’s commitment to unlocking strategic national assets, catalysing private-sector investment, and creating sustainable opportunities for Batswana, New Botswana City aims to strengthen Botswana’s position as a regional hub for trade, business tourism, investment, and innovation, advancing the country’s vision for inclusive and diversified economic growth as “The Gateway to Africa’s Trade Future.”