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Access to commercial electricity is low. Most of the population depend on biomass. Wood remains a major source of energy for rural and low-income urban communities and is mainly used for cooking, space heating, and lighting. (...)

Botswana is promoting wider use of coal to substitute imports and to replace fuel wood with domestic coal; however, efforts have been unsuccessful. The National Coal Roadmap, which outlines Botswana's plans to develop the coal industry, regards the exploitation of coal as critical to meet socio-economic and energy needs and achieve economic diversification away from diamonds. Further exploitation of the available resources would, in principle, allow Botswana to use coal to generate electricity for domestic consumption and export the surplus to other SADC members. However, major challenges include: the lack of appropriate transport infrastructure for exports and the environmental impact, including carbon emissions.\

The Tourism Policy of 1990 is still in force but is under review to better adjust it to recent developments, competitiveness, and key challenges in the subsector. The Policy focuses on sustainable tourism development to increase social and economic welfare. The Policy's main objectives are, inter alia, to increase foreign exchange earnings and government revenues, and develop rural areas. The Tourism Master Plan 2000 was developed to set up guidelines to attain the Policy's objectives. The Plan also recommends switching from a "low-volume, high-value" strategy to a "high-volume, mixed-price" strategy. [112] In addition, to ensure the sustainable tourism development, the National Ecotourism Strategy 2002 was launched.

[112] The "low-volume, high-value" strategy sought to preserve the environment by avoiding excessive numbers of tourists to enter protected areas, setting high prices and hence targeting wealthier visitors. However, the strategy was considered to be restrictive. The "high-volume, mixed-price" strategy is aimed at attracting more tourists and offering a wider range of affordable tourism products (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, 2000); and Botswana's 10th National Development Plan (NDP10). Viewed at: http://www.nationalplanningcycles.org/sites/default/files/country_docs/Botswana/ndp_botswana.pdf).

In addition, during the period under review, Botswana Tourism introduced an Ecotourism Certification System to encourage eco-friendly tourism products and services. Participation in the eco-certification programme is voluntary. Since 2009, 22 enterprises have been eco-certified.

The Government's overall policy objectives continue to be guided by the National Vision 2020 that was launched in 2003. It remains the overarching policy framework on how Basotho would like to see their country economically and socially by the year 2020. The 2020 document identifies seven pillars of development: democracy, unity, peace, education and training, economic growth, management of the environment, and advancement in technology. (...)

The agriculture sector is projected to grow by 2.4% on average between 2014/15 and 2017/18. As the authorities gradually deal with the sector problems, such as small and fragmented landscape, seeds and fertilisers, irrigation, erosion, output marketing, storage facilities and transport, and the need to implement reforms that will propel Lesotho farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture. (...)

(...) Lesotho strives to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable growth trajectory to address the high incidence of poverty. (...)

Lesotho's main trade policy objectives are to expand and diversify exports and promote foreign investment with a view to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. [6] (...)

[6] The NSDP serves as the implementation strategy for the National Vision 2020 and has six strategic pillars: (a) pursue high and inclusive economic growth; (b) develop key infrastructure; (c) enhance the skills base, technology adoption and foundation for innovation; (d) improve health, combat HIV and AIDS, and reduce vulnerability; (e) reverse environmental degradation and adapt to climate change; and (f) promote peace, democratic governance and build effective institutions.

Once a company is incorporated, investors must apply for a trading licence and/or manufacturing licence depending on the business activity they would like to undertake. An environment impact assessment (EIA) licence may also be required. The issuance of trading licences is governed by the Trading Enterprises Order of 1993, as amended in 1996, and the Trading Enterprises Regulations of 1999, as amended in 2011, while the issuance of manufacturing licences is governed by the Industrial Licensing Act 2014, which repeals the 1969 Act , the Industrial Licensing Regulations 2014 and the Pioneer Industries Encouragement Act 1969. EIA licences are regulated by the Environment Act 2008.

In addition, every person wishing to engage in industrial operations must obtain a manufacturing licence under the Industrial Licensing Act 2014. Micro, small and medium enterprises may be exempted from this requirement. The authorities indicated in this respect that the related regulations were still to be developed. One of the requirements to obtain a manufacturing licence is to submit an impact report on public health, occupational safety and environmental issues where necessary. Foreign investment is subject to an entry threshold of US$250,000. The duration of the licence is one year (renewable), unless otherwise specified.