Local Enterprise Authority

18/09/2026

We are at the Pan African Game Changers

Mafhitlhakgosi!

18/09/2026

17/09/2026

The Local Enterprise Authority attended Day 1 of the Pan African Game Changers Summit 2026 at GICC, where the theme was "Africa is Rising and Her Leadership Responds." This significant gathering featured accomplished speakers from various countries, engaging in vital discussions about Africa's ascent and the missed opportunities in raw material value addition, which often results in our products returning as costly imports.

The sessions highlighted critical topics including education, political challenges, cultural issues, and various stumbling blocks like diseases and corruption. The overarching question was clear: with numerous plans and agreements in place, what must African leadership do differently to ensure successful delivery?

Discussions also focused on the current trajectory of continent-wide aspirations and the necessity for leadership to translate vision into tangible outcomes. Key themes included Africa's developmental trajectory, continental integration, economic transformation, and building institutional capacity. The summit presented an opportunity for Africa's next generation, as dialogues centered around the continent's vision, progress, promises, and implementation strategies.

In addition to panel discussions and debates, attendees were treated to entertainment from Mafitlhakgosi, enriching the discourse with a cultural touch. The summit proved to be a crucial platform for interrogating where we are now and addressing the reasons behind previous implementation failures.

17/09/2026

Just a quick reminder that our masterclass is about to begin.

Join..join..join.

17/09/2026

We are here! 📍

16/09/2026

Have you registered?

15/09/2026

LEA Masunga Branch Drives SMME Compliance on New Employment and Labour Relations Act

The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) Masunga Branch successfully hosted a capacity-building workshop on September 11, 2026, to sensitize the local business community on the newly launched Employment and Labour Relations Act and Environmental Health standards.

Attended by 30 business owners from across the North-East District, the session aimed to equip micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMMEs) with essential regulatory knowledge to ensure sustainable operations.
Delivering the welcome address, LEA Masunga Branch Manager, Ms. Kgomotso Masunga, urged entrepreneurs to prioritize legal and regulatory compliance as a cornerstone of long-term business competitiveness. She reaffirmed LEA's commitment to supporting entrepreneurs with comprehensive business development services, highlighting that the workshop was organized to address critical operational gaps.

Key insights were delivered by district regulatory officials:

• Labour Law Compliance: District Labour Officer, Mr. Motseele, briefed participants on the Employment and Labour Relations Act, which officially came into effect on September 1, 2026. He urged business owners to keep a copy of the Act on-site to understand their employer obligations and invited entrepreneurs to utilize his office for further guidance.

• Environmental Health & Safety: The North-East Environmental Health Officer underscored the necessity of maintaining clean, safe, and compliant business premises. Key requirements highlighted included ensuring operational warm water supplies at a minimum of 70°C and installing up-to-date fire extinguishers.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the business community, LEA client Mr. Oteng Bulikwe thanked LEA Masunga Branch for hosting the informative session and encouraged the continuation of similar stakeholder engagements across the district.

15/09/2026

LEA TAKES SMME MARKET ACCESS TO THE PAN-AFRICAN STAGE

The Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) will participate in the 2026 Pan African Game Changers (PAGC) Summit, taking place 17–18 September 2026 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) under the theme:

“Africa Is Rising & Her Leadership Responds.”

Representing LEA at this high-level continental platform, Ms. Shatho Orapeleng, Head of Market Access, will join the speaker line-up, contributing to conversations shaping trade, investment, market access and Africa’s economic transformation.

The Summit brings together policymakers, government leaders, investors, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the continent, creating an important platform to advance conversations around the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the opportunities it presents for African businesses.

For LEA, the focus is clear: opening markets and positioning Botswana’s SMMEs to compete beyond our borders.

A select group of export-ready LEA clients will also participate as exhibitors and delegates, showcasing their products and services while pursuing business linkages, investors, distributors and strategic partnerships across the African market.

This is more than participation. It is about creating pathways for Botswana’s SMMEs to access markets, build strategic connections and compete in the African economy.

We wish Ms. Orapeleng and all participating LEA clients a successful and impactful engagement at the 2026 PAGC Summit.

LEA, Connecting SMMEs to Markets. Building Competitiveness. Unlocking Opportunity.

15/09/2026

Strengthening SMME Growth Through Strategic Collaboration

Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) CEO, Mr Thato V. Jensen, and SPEDU CEO, Mr Tefo M. Setlhare , met on Monday, 14 September 2026, to explore strategic areas of collaboration within the SPEDU region.

The engagement focused on scaling SMMEs and strengthening institutional value chains to create greater opportunities for local enterprises to participate, grow and compete.

The two institutions are looking at how their respective mandates, capabilities and regional reach can be better aligned to deliver greater economic impact, moving beyond individual enterprise support towards stronger, connected and more sustainable value chains.

The discussion reinforces the importance of partnerships that translate into practical opportunities for SMMEs and contribute meaningfully to regional economic development.