Botswana economy must diversify

Cautious optimism best
describes the current outlook
for the Botswana economy.
This despite strong growth
in the landlocked country’s
economy in 2016 – with more
of the same expected for 2017.
According to NKC African
Economists Botswana
specialist Pieter du Preez, the
over-reliance on one single
export remains a cause for
concern.
“The over-reliance on the
diamond industry renders
the country highly vulnerable
to any downturn in global
economic conditions given
the “luxury good” nature of
diamonds,” Du Preez told
FTW. “This was evident when
the Botswanan economy
contracted in 2015 as a
result of weak demand in
the global diamond market.
The biggest challenge for
the Botswanan authorities
remains diversification of their
economy.”