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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The Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), and National Development Bank (NDB) provide local project financing.  In addition, CEDA operates a Venture Capital Fund to provide equity capital to citizens as well as ventures between citizens and foreign companies. Export Credit Insurance and Guarantee Company Botswana (BECI) is the only credit insurer in Botswana, and a private company wholly owned by BDC. 

The World Bank has an office and a resident director in Botswana, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which supports the country with private sector led growth and economic diversification programs is also resident.  Other non-resident multilateral development banks that cover Botswana are African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) also supports the country’s development through the provision of political risk insurance to promote foreign investment in Botswana.  DFC’s finance and insurance programs are available for Botswana.  U.S. Export-Import Bank resources are also available for trade and project financing in Botswana.

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.

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 Botswana  Investment Climate Statement. 

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