Promote:
Invest in Botswana
A short guide for companies expanding into Botswana: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Botswana at a glance
PopulationEstimate
2.56 million
Botswana's population was 2,562,122 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Botswana population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$19.9 billion
GDP was US$19.93 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Botswana GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$7,778
GDP per person was US$7,778.12 in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Botswana GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
−0.7%
Real GDP fell 0.7 percent in 2025, by the World Bank's figure.
Source: World Bank WDI, Botswana real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
7.8%
Annual inflation was 7.8 percent in September 2026, the statistics office's twelve-month rate, and the Bank of Botswana reports the same rate.
Source: Statistics Botswana, Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$-653.81 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were negative US$653.8 million in 2025, per UNCTAD.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, Botswana (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Pula (ISO code BWP).
Source: Bank of Botswana, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, which also promotes exports and manages the national brand.
Source: BITC, about page and mandate (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
BITC hosts the Botswana One Stop Service Centre, which houses government agencies that issue approvals, permits and licenses to accredited investors.
Source: BITC, Botswana One Stop Service Centre (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
The trade ministry told Parliament in August 2020 that the Trade Act, 2019 reserves 17 business activities for citizens, and the Industrial Development Act, 2019 reserves 21 manufacturing licenses.
Source: Botswana Daily News, reserved businesses, 19 August 2020 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 19, 2020
As of December 2024, the Special Economic Zones Authority said it was focusing on eight designated special economic zones, per the Botswana Daily News.
Source: Botswana Daily News, SEZA update to MPs, 22 December 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 22, 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Botswana
- Become an accredited client of BITC to use its one-stop service center.Botswana Investment and Trade CentreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BITC, who can use BOSSC services (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Reserve a name and register the company with CIPA, then file the company constitution.Companies and Intellectual Property AuthorityConstitution filing fee P500Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CIPA, home page and constitution notice, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register with BURS for income tax and VAT, supplying the incorporation forms and director details.Botswana Unified Revenue ServiceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BURS, tax registration requirements (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply for the trade or business license your activity needs, through BOSSC.Botswana One Stop Service CentreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BITC, Botswana One Stop Service Centre (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Apply for entry visas and work and residence permits for foreign staff.Ministry of Labour and Home AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Botswana Daily News, work permit task force, 4 August 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 4, 2026
- Arrange land or factory space through the BITC Property Management Unit, subject to availability.Botswana Investment and Trade CentreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BITC, Botswana One Stop Service Centre (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Complete environmental assessment compliance and utility connections for the site.Botswana One Stop Service CentreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: BITC, Botswana One Stop Service Centre (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with BURS. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Company and business registry
CIPA
Companies and Intellectual Property Authority
Registers companies and business names and records intellectual property.
Visit CIPA (opens in a new tab)Source: CIPA, starting a business in Botswana (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Special economic zones authority
SEZA
Special Economic Zones Authority
Develops, manages and regulates the special economic zones.
Visit SEZA (opens in a new tab)Source: Botswana Daily News, SEZA update to MPs, 22 December 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 22, 2024
Show 3 more organizations
- Get advice
Small business support agency
LEA
Local Enterprise Authority
Supports small, medium and micro enterprises with advice, incubation and export readiness.
Visit LEA (opens in a new tab)Source: LEA, about the Local Enterprise Authority (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Find finance
National development bank
NDB
National Development Bank
Lends for agriculture, business and housing, including purchase order finance and term loans.
Visit NDB (opens in a new tab)Source: NDB, home page and loan products (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Citizen enterprise financing agency
CEDA
Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency
Lends to citizen-owned enterprises, including projects that commercial banks may not fund.
Visit CEDA (opens in a new tab)Source: CEDA, background and mandate (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
BURS
Botswana Unified Revenue Service
Collects tax and customs duty, registers traders, and issues certificates of origin for exports.
Visit BURS (opens in a new tab)Source: BURS, international trade agreements overview (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Customs union secretariat
SACU Secretariat
Southern African Customs Union Secretariat
Regional body
Publishes the SACU agreements and the trade agreements the union has signed.
Visit SACU Secretariat (opens in a new tab)Source: SACU Secretariat, trade agreements register (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Private sector association
Business Botswana
Represents private and parastatal companies and offers business development services and training.
Visit Business Botswana (opens in a new tab)Source: Business Botswana, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
AGOA status
Botswana is on the 2026 list of AGOA beneficiaries, and Public Law 119-103 extends the program to 31 December 2028; no official current tariff rate for Botswana goods was opened.
What to do: Confirm the current United States duty rate for your product before you price.
Sources: Federal Register, AGOA 2027 eligibility review notice, 30 June 2026 (opens in a new tab); GovInfo, H.R. 6500 bill status, 2 September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Reserved sectors
In 2020 the trade ministry said law reserves 17 business activities, 21 manufacturing licenses and four liquor licenses for citizens, but BITC says ownership is unrestricted.
What to do: Ask BITC in writing whether your activity is reserved before you decide the ownership structure.
Sources: Botswana Daily News, reserved businesses, 19 August 2020 (opens in a new tab); BITC, why invest in Botswana (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Company tax rate
BITC pages quote 22 percent company tax, but the Income Tax Act, 2026, in force since 1 July 2026, lists 24.5 percent for standard companies.
What to do: Confirm the rate and any incentive that applies with BURS before you model returns.
Sources: Income Tax Act 2026, Government Gazette, 1 July 2026 (opens in a new tab); BITC, investment incentives page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Company constitutions
CIPA says all companies must file a constitution, and the filing extension ran to 30 September 2026, with a P500 fee.
What to do: Check your status with CIPA, because the extension date has passed.
Sources: CIPA, home page and constitution notice, 2026 (opens in a new tab); CIPA, starting a business in Botswana (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
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Investment law
On 2 April 2026 the trade minister told Parliament that Botswana has no dedicated investment law, and investor rules are spread across different institutions.
What to do: Ask BITC which statutes and licenses apply to your sector before you commit capital.
Sources: Parliament of Botswana, Daily Hansard, 2 April 2026 (opens in a new tab); Botswana Daily News, minister on investment law, 6 April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Botswana with other countriesSet Botswana beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Botswana project.
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Promote:Botswana is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.