Stanbic Bank Empowers Local Businesses at Wilderness Suppliers' Expo
Through initiatives like the Local Supplier Expo, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Okavango Wilderness Safaris aim to empower local entrepreneurs, drive economic diversification.
GABORONE, Botswana— Stanbic Bank Botswana has bolstered the inaugural Okavango Wilderness Safaris (OWS) Local Supplier Expo 2024, a platform aimed at empowering citizen-owned businesses in the tourism and hospitality value chain, writes Winston Mwale.
"We are proud to support Wilderness and this symbiosis between our two entities is reflective of how we strive to do business: supporting and investing in what matters most to our client as we help drive their growth and the growth of initiatives they are passionate about," said Morufhi Masikara, Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB).
The sponsorship of P150,000 towards the Expo, held on March 13th at Wilderness' Maun offices, aligns with the Bank's Social, Environmental and Economic (SEE) Agenda and supported logistics for the 110 local businesses that participated.
"We are grateful to Stanbic Bank Botswana for always being a part of our growth and the initiatives we are so passionate about," said Joe Matome, Okavango Wilderness Safaris Caretaker MD.
"We want to support more Botswana businesses as suppliers and vendors into our camps, from fresh produce to curios, beverages to clothing, and more."
The Expo model aligns with the Bank's Accelerate Incubator's support of Citizen Economic Empowerment and the Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP), focusing on welcoming local, citizen-owned suppliers to exhibit their products and services for potential collaboration with Wilderness' camps in Botswana.
"As veritable engines of the economy, small businesses account for a remarkable proportion of our national economy and are a key part of driving economic diversification further," said Kushatha Chilisa, Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of Citizen Economic Empowerment Programme (CEEP).
"It is our hope to be able to further support the Expo vendors in a similar manner, with potential financing, incubation and more."
This partnership builds on the Bank's previous support for Wilderness, including its role as Sustainability Structuring Agent and Sole Lender in a nature conservation financing deal, the first of its kind on the African continent, to assist Wilderness in expanding into new markets and conserving larger areas of land.
Through initiatives like the Local Supplier Expo, Stanbic Bank Botswana and Okavango Wilderness Safaris aim to empower local entrepreneurs, drive economic diversification, and promote sustainable tourism in the region.