CEDA AWARDED BEST PERFORMING PARASTATAL BY MINISTRY OF INVESTMENT TRADE AND INDUSTRY

MEDIA RELEASE

CEDA Awarded Best Performing Parastatal at the Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry Excellence Awards

The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) scooped two awards at the recently held Ministry of Investment Trade and Industry (MITI) Excellence Awards at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) on Friday 15 September 2017. The Agency was awarded with the Best Performing Parastatal for the 5th consecutive year and Most Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) Compliant Parastatal. Both these awards are symbolic of how CEDA is committed to the growth of citizen-owned businesses and the economy of Botswana as a whole.

The Best Performing Parastatal Award is awarded to the Parastatal that has met or even exceeded most of its targets in the 2016/17 Financial Year. CEDA has always done well with regard to its financial performance. The Most EDD Compliant Parastatal is awarded to the Parastatal that makes significant efforts to support the Economic Diversification Drive which is spearheaded and driven by MITI.

The CEDA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thabo Thamane was also individually awarded “The Go To Guy Of the Year” this accolade is awarded to someone who is known to constantly deliver on their promise and mandate. They are known to go through leaps and bounds to ensure that they effectively deliver on the tasks they have been set.  These awards are testimony of the efforts CEDA makes in insuring that it achieves its mandate of driving entrepreneurship empowering Batswana.

The Minister of Investment Trade and Industry, Honourable Vincent T Seretse commended all performers for the efforts they have put into their work over the year. He went on to applaud and recognise the parastatals that fall under MITI and said that it is particularly gratifying for him to be the minister of such an elite group of leaders. The Captains of the Parastatals have been exemplary in Leadership and have ensured that the Ministry is equally recognised as one of the Best Performing Ministries in government.

The Agency has done well for itself in the past financial year. In November 2016, CEDA successfully hosted the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI’s) Joint CEO Forum held at Gaborone International Convention Centre. This was a milestone event for the Agency as over 400 delegates from all over the world converged in Botswana to dialogue on Development Finance issues under the theme Tackling Relevance and Sustainability for Development Finance Institutions.

Born from the 3rd Joint CEO Forum is the on-going CEDA/DBSA University Challenge which is a joint partnership between CEDA and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). The University Challenge calls upon the youth of Botswana, specifically those enrolled in the 10 participating institutions        of higher learning, at all levels; Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Masters Degrees or        Doctoral Programmes to come up with implementable solutions to issues affecting the country.

The Challenge aims to award a female winner with the grand prize of P250 000 and P200 000 should the winner be male. The closing date for submission is 25^th of September 2017 and the Official Prize-Giving Ceremony will be held on the 31^st of October 2017.

The Agency has also been recognised and awarded as the Best Performing Development Finance Institution within the Association of African Development Finance Institution (AADFI) for the past 4 years.

The achievements highlighted above in the recent past are indicative of the progress and growth that the Agency has displayed since its establishment in 2001. CEDA continues to serve and deliver on its mandate by ensuring that they encourage entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for Batswana.

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For any further information regarding this Media Release please contact:

Leatile G. Bakwena

Communications Manager

Tel +267 3991084

Fax: +267 3170896

Cell: +267 72323286

Email: lbakwena@ceda.co.bw