Botswana: Selibe Phikwe-based health/medical services and devices companies Vector Experts and DIMSOL International have bemoaned the limited market access for their locally manufactured products.
Briefing BITC CEO Keletsositse Olebile on his after-care tour of their operations, Vector Expert Tshepang Ramasankate said they set up in the SPEDU region, hoping there would be provision for off-take of their produce, but to a large extent, that has not been realized.
He said they face stiff competition from distributors who just buy foreign-made products and packages for the Botswana market. Vector Exports currently produces Type IRR disposable face masks, and the market allows them to also have the capacity to produce other healthcare products like PPEs, surgical gloves, etc.
DIMSOL Int. Managing Director Charles Seisa also noted the challenges and delays they have with some regulators to get the necessary approvals to produce and supply the market, something that he said is not imposed on foreign made products.
Seisa said because of that, business people now resort to being just foreign product distributors and not manufacturers, and that doesn’t help the economy much as there is no industry development and no employment creation. DIMSOL Int currently produces vacuum blood collection tubes.
Both companies’ representatives, however, noted the assistance that they got from some institutions, but their biggest challenge remains the lack of market access and how the local manufacturing industry can be protected from the influx of sometimes sub-standard foreign products at the expense of the local manufacturing sector.
BITC CEO Olebile noted their concerns for his part, saying the challenges need a multi-stakeholder effort to facilitate and unlock opportunities for local manufacturers. He did mention that although the health sector is highly regulated, there is a great need for engagement to afford local manufacturers in the space a share of the market as they contribute to employment creation, especially in the SPEDU region that is hard hit by unemployment.
Olebile also said that through the BITC Export Development and promotion mandate, the Centre will assist with scoping for export markets for the two companies. He encouraged the companies to work closely with BITC to explore export markets for their products, so they augment the little local market share they have.