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3.32. The Government's strategy on economic development – Vision 2036 (Table 2.2) – aims to develop Botswana as a high-income country by 2036, with an export-led economy underpinned by diversified, exclusive, and sustainable growth driven by high levels of productivity. (...)

3.48. (...) Botswana standards are based on standards developed by other national, regional, and/or international standardization bodies, and are adopted either as they are, or adapted to Botswana's cultural, climatic (...), or industrial or economic environment. (...)

3.62. Botswana has not yet developed regulations on biotechnology or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The authorities state that the use of GMO seeds for crop production and feed is not allowed.

3.66. Where the CCA [the Competition and Consumer Authority] (...) has reasonable grounds to suspect a restriction or distortion of competition may be occurring, it may initiate a market inquiry. Over the review period, it undertook market inquiries in, inter alia, (...) tenders in public procurement projects of construction services, waste management,(...)

4.12. Agricultural policy is elaborated in both general and sector-specific strategies. Under Vision 2036 (Section 2), the main agriculture-related objective is to have a sustainable, technology-driven, commercially viable, disease-free agricultural sector that optimizes land and other resources. (...) In the context of the National Development Plan 11 (2017-2023) (NDP 11), the Government aims to improve food security and nutrition through improving access to productive resources (land, finance, inputs, infrastructure, and information) as well as to promote the practice of cluster farming and agro-ecological zones. (... )Botswana also continues to implement the 1991 National Policy on Agricultural Development, which aims to improve food security at the household and national levels, conserve agricultural and land resources for the future, diversify the sector, and mainstream disadvantaged groups into the sector. (...)

4.26. (...) The Ministry of Minerals and Energy (formerly the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security) is responsible for the sector. Departments within the Ministry with mining-related responsibilities are (i) the Department of Mines, which is responsible for licensing and monitoring of mining operations; and for ensuring compliance with environmental, health, and safety standards and the related Acts and Regulations; (...) The Minerals Development Company Botswana (Pty) Ltd (MDCB), a parastatal mining investment holding company, was established in 2015 to hold and develop all of Botswana's current and future mining interests. Its purpose is to optimize returns to the Government from its equity stakes in the mining industry, in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. (...)

4.30. (...) As indicated in the 2023 Budget Speech, the Government is reviewing this law with a view to (...) ensuring proper management of resources (...) Other laws relevant to the sector are the Diamond Cutting Act, 1979 and the Semi-Precious Stones Act, 1969. The Diamond Cutting Act Amendment Bill and the Precious and Semi-Precious Stones (Protection) Amendment Bill were passed by Parliament in August 2021. They aim to modernize the minerals legislation and to align it with policy aspirations on issues relating to ease of doing business, occupational health, safety, environment, and anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism issues.

4.31. A Minerals Policy was adopted in February 2022 [128], which aims to (...) (iv) ensure protection of the environment (based on the Environmental Management System) and public safety; (v) contribute to sustainable economic growth and livelihoods through value addition activities along the value chain and effective participation by citizens (i.e. as investors, suppliers, and service providers) and locally based companies; (vi) ensure sustainable development of mineral resources through monitoring of Natural Capital Accounting; (...)
[128] Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Botswana Minerals Policy 2022

4.35. The Ministry of Minerals and Energy is responsible for formulating and implementing national energy policies. The Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA), which started operations in 2017, is responsible for providing the regulatory framework for electricity, gas, coal, petroleum products, and all forms of renewable energy.

4.36. In 2021, the Ministry released its National Energy Policy (NEP) in which it sets out its objectives to create a secure and reliable energy system with capacity to supply energy to all the sectors of the economy and to significantly reduce energy-related atmospheric emissions by 2040. The policy seeks to ensure that energy is accessible to all, especially the low-income members of the community. The NEP facilitates the diversification of the national energy mix (i.e. electricity, oil and gas, biofuels, solar, and coal), and modernization and expansion of energy infrastructure by promoting renewable energy sources, especially solar and clean coal technologies. The policy aims to improve regional and international cooperation in energy trade (i.e. via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)) and overall development of the sector. It is aligned with the SADC Energy Protocol.