Seven months into his new post as Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) Chief Executive Officer, Jacob Nkate seems to be at ease in his new role. JOEL KONOPO reports.

At first he seems unconcerned about the disapproving comments that his appointment to BEDIA was largely political. He then draws his chair closer to the desk.
“What political appointment. What is so political about this? You tell me! CEOs are appointed through a process,” he charges with a grim face.
Nkate would have been an unusual candidate to lead the authority. Nine months ago, he was Education Minister, but was awfully dispatched from his constituency by a lesser-known opposition politician. He was then employed in January to lead BEDIA.
Tellingly, Nkate is at ease reciting BEDIA’s mandate.
Having been a Minister of Trade and Industry in which BEDIA fell under his portfolio, ironically, he would not have made a better choice.
“BEDIA was formed following a realisation that Botswana economy is dependent on mining, especially diamonds,” he posits cheerfully.
BEDIA is an autonomous, private sector led organisation mandated by an Act of parliament (1997) to encourage, promote and facilitate the establishment of export-oriented enterprises and selected services, which will result in economic diversification, rapid economic growth and creation of sustained employment opportunities.
BEDIA also works closely with government to ensure that the country has a positive investment climate. Since its inception, a total combined capital investment realised and jobs created over the last three years exceed P1.05 billion. This has also created employment opportunities for about 4 490 individuals from green field investment and expansion by operating companies.
Having been a Minister of Trade, Nkate knows all too well what it takes to woo investors. Nkate easily passes for a country’s investment CEO. “We also deal with advocacy - land allocation, licenses and after-care,” he says in reference to that extra effort BEDIA makes to ensure that investors acclimatise to the local environment. This seems to be working well.
Out of 183 countries surveyed by the World Bank in the ease of doing business for 2010, Botswana is ranked 45. The Global Peace Index has also ranked Botswana Africa’s most peaceful country, scooping the 33rd place out of 149 countries. Botswana’s sovereign credit rating currently stands at A - as rated by Standard and Poor Agency.
These are impressive competitive advantages that excite Nkate. “We are a democracy. Tried and tested,” he acclaims.
But analysts have argued previously that attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) requires more than just impressive democratic credentials with emerging economies such as DRC and Angola holding promise for Africa. China is in a shopping spree for Africa’s natural resources and Botswana is not on the list.
Nkate then makes a case of what he calls Botswana’s selling points: the country’s infrastructure is among the best in Africa; Botswana has low corruption; the middle-income country also respects the sanctity of contract and the rule of law, he recites adding, “Our unions are not militant, we have resilient institutions”.
But he admits that Botswana is fighting for the same market with emerging economies such as DRC and Angola. “We continue to grow.” Already 30 well-diversified companies  - ranging from steel manufacturing to glass manufacturing - have set up in Botswana. “We are chasing others. Well call them leads. We are chasing a lot of leads,” says Nkate, adding that BEDIA has gone all out to ensure that its investors find working in Botswana conducive.
The authority also owns factory shells, which they lease to start-ups for a period of three years and later rent them out.
Despite the prospects of an impressive and growing BEDIA, in February this year, government announced a decision to merge the authority with the IFSC, saying the two duplicate each other. Nkate agrees, albeit grudgingly. A task force was set to start the ball rolling.
“We do the same thing,” he says wryly and quickly veers into diplomatic explanations familiar with government officials. “Government has a conviction that there can be some cost saving measures and effectiveness. We are rationalising.”
Progress has been made. Nkate expects that by September this year, a Bill will be tabled in parliament. Both the task force and the Reference Group - a group of senior government officials and BEDIA/IFSC CEOs - have made strides in ensuring that the merger is realised. Currently BEDIA employs 70 people, while the IFSC employs 13. Having taken a long look into the merger, Nkate is convinced it will create more absorptions as opposed to job loses.
“But we are managing anxieties,” he assures. The Reference Group has already engaged the Attorney General’s Chamber to look into finer details and establish if the merger is in the right direction. 
But what will the new institution look like? Wary of extolling this unknown creation, Nkate argues that the new institution will simply combine efforts by the IFSC and BEDIA. “We are combining efforts,” he repeats, veering off to explain that what concerns him most currently is opportunities created by the merger. He, however, declines to be drawn into the details of the looming merger.
Is he poised to lead the new institution? “The new Act will define how the new CEO will be appointed,” adding, “Let us not be overly presumptuous,” he warns. “We will get there,” he says.