Opportunities for economic engagement for German agricultural companies in Botswana
As part of the project’s first country engagement in Botswana, a delegation from the Agricultural Policy Dialogue between the African Union and Germany on Strengthening the Resilience of Food Systems in Africa (APD AU) visited the country from Mar 9-13, 2026. The APD AU is funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Regional Identity (BMLEH) and implemented by IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH.
The goal of the week-long discussions with government and business stakeholders, led by the Botswana Ministry of Agriculture (MoLA), was also to identify concrete business opportunities for local, regional, and international agricultural companies.
Botswana offers an extremely attractive environment for investment in the agricultural sector. The country is characterized by a stable political system, comparatively low levels of corruption and crime, and a well-developed infrastructure. Furthermore, Botswana is closely integrated into the SADC region (Southern African Development Community) and can thus serve as a strategic hub for agricultural investment in a larger regional market.
At the same time, there are challenges that also present opportunities for investors. These include the strong role of the public sector in many economic sectors, a still limited diversity of private market actors, and underdeveloped processing capacities in large parts of the economy. Particularly in areas such as irrigation, integrated pest management (IPM), organic fertilizers, and animal feed, there are promising opportunities.
Currently, the APD AU is working with all relevant partners to analyze how trade and investment barriers can be reduced and incentives for economic activity created – ideally without resorting to traditional subsidies.
The IAK is actively supporting this process, leveraging its close network within the German agricultural sector. The goal is to strengthen ties between German and African companies and thereby promote sustainable economic development beyond traditional development cooperation.