Botswana Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in botswana, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Trade Financing
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Botswana offers a range of local and international financing options to support projects and investments.  Key local institutions include the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), and National Development Bank (NDB), which provide project financing.  Additionally, the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) operates a Venture Capital Fund to offer equity capital to citizens and joint ventures between citizens and foreign companies.  The Export Credit Insurance and Guarantee Company Botswana (BECI), a private entity wholly owned by BDC, is the country’s sole credit insurer.

Internationally, Botswana benefits from the presence of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which support private sector-led growth and economic diversification.  Non-resident multilateral development banks, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), also provide support.  The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) promotes foreign investment in Botswana by offering political risk insurance.
U.S. financing resources are available through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), which provide trade and project financing options for businesses operating in Botswana.  These diverse financing mechanisms support both local and foreign investors in driving economic growth and development in the country.

Methods of Payment: 

The most common method of payment for imports from the United States is through Letters of Credit, bank drafts, or bank transfers.  TransUnion offers credit check services on the retail side and the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) performs credit checks on the banking side. There are no foreign exchange controls in Botswana, allowing free movement of capital and free repatriation of profits.  While there are no general restrictions, a declaration is mandatory for carrying the equivalent of BWP 10,000 ($744.69) or more in any currency into and out of the country.
For more information about the methods of payment or other trade finance options, please read the Trade Finance Guide available at https://www.trade.gov/trade-finance-guide-quick-reference-us-exporters.
Further details on financing in Botswana can be found at the 2022 Botswana  Investment Climate Statement.  
 

For more information about the methods of payment or other trade finance options, please read the Trade Finance Guide available at https://www.trade.gov/trade-finance-guide-quick-reference-us-exporters.

Further details on financing in Botswana can be found at the 2022 Botswana  Investment Climate Statement. 

 

 

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