Access Bank Botswana participated as Diamond Sponsor of the inaugural National Retail Convention (NRC25), held at the Travelodge Convention Centre in Gaborone. With the theme “Creating an Environment of Growth and Inclusion in Botswana’s Retail Sector,” the event brought together stakeholders from across the country’s retail value chain to drive dialogue, share solutions, and chart a more inclusive economic future.
The Bank’s involvement aligns with its commitment to Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE), the advancement of youth and women-led enterprises, and inclusive access to financing.
“We are proud to support a platform that brings together retailers, producers, distributors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to share ideas and build a more vibrant and inclusive retail sector,” said Kefentse Keabetse, Head of Global Markets & Treasury at Access Bank Botswana. “Our involvement reflects our broader commitment to enabling local businesses with customized financial solutions, supporting skills development, and expanding economic opportunity.”
As Diamond Sponsor, Access Bank Botswana had an opportunity to showcase its tailored business banking offerings designed to unlock value for SMEs, startups, and underserved markets,going beyond banking to deliver advisory support, strategic insight, and growth partnerships.
The event drew over 100 participants from across Botswana and the region, including manufacturers, distributors, logistics providers, retailers, technology firms, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. Sessions included dynamic panel discussions, keynote presentations, and networking forums focused on unlocking growth opportunities and addressing sector-wide challenges.
During the panel discussion “Unpacking the Value Chain,” Boiki Tema, Board Chair of Access Bank Botswana, emphasized the importance of value addition in agriculture. Tema was quoted as saying, “Value addition and processing are where the real transformation happens in agriculture. There’s a lot of heavy lifting involved, from cutting, packaging, and branding to building partnerships with retail stores to get products on shelves. But this is where real economic value is created. I strongly encourage young entrepreneurs to explore these often-overlooked areas of the value chain and unlock their full potential.”
The convention also featured insights from other notable leaders. Peter Mamabolo, Vice President, Operations and Banner Lead at Masscash Holdings, delivered the keynote address, spotlighting the shifting dynamics of retail in the region. While Scott
Senwelo, CEO of Mediland Healthcare Distributors, addressed the potential in the pharmaceutical sector; and Thamiso Magowe, Founding Director of FoodForage Pty Ltd, spoke from a manufacturing perspective on challenges and opportunities in local food production.
Nkosi Mwaba, Director of Retailbox and organizer of the event expressed his appreciation, “Access Bank’s partnership was pivotal to the success of Botswana’s first National Retail Convention. “They fully embraced our vision to unite the retail ecosystem and helped spark meaningful dialogue on growth and inclusion. With their support, we’ve laid the groundwork for a Retail Industry Association that will drive coordinated efforts across the sector, particularly for SMEs and the informal market,” he added.
NRC25 has laid the foundation for a stronger, more connected retail ecosystem in Botswana. Access Bank Botswana was proud to be part of this journey supporting local businesses, fast innovation, and championing inclusive economic growth that benefits allBatswana. Through its participation Access Bank Botswana signalled its readiness to accelerate deeper development in the country’s retail sector.
