Botswana Courts Large-Scale Investment in Talks With Dangote

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 4, 2026

Botswana is courting large-scale investment from Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote as President Duma Boko seeks to accelerate industrialisation and expand economic cooperation with African businesses.

Boko said Dangote, founder and chief executive of Dangote Group, paid a courtesy call at the Office of the President, where the two discussed opportunities for large-scale investment, industrialisation and economic cooperation.

No specific investment or project was announced following the meeting.

The talks come as Botswana seeks to strengthen domestic production and create more value from its resources, with Boko arguing that African economies need to reduce their dependence on exporting raw materials and importing manufactured goods.

“Africa must lead its own development. We cannot continue exporting raw materials and importing basic goods,” Boko said in a statement following the meeting.

He said the priority was now to translate investment opportunities into projects capable of generating jobs and building industrial capacity.

“Our biggest challenge is implementation. The ideas are there, now we must turn them into projects, jobs and industries,” Boko said.

Dangote Group has built a diversified industrial presence across Africa, with businesses spanning cement, fertiliser, food processing and energy. The group’s founder has previously pursued large-scale industrial investments in several African markets, including Nigeria, Ethiopia and Senegal.

For Botswana, attracting industrial investment would support efforts to diversify an economy heavily reliant on diamonds and develop more domestic value addition.

The meeting also comes as African governments increasingly seek to attract intra-African investment as a way of strengthening regional supply chains and reducing dependence on imported manufactured goods.

Boko did not disclose which sectors could be targeted for investment or whether further negotiations with Dangote Group are planned.

Source: FSX Business News