Botswana Aims to Double Economy With 186 Project Plan

Botswana has unveiled a major economic plan to nearly double its size by 2036. The Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) involves 186 projects focused on diversification. These projects aim to attract BWP 514 billion in private investment. The ultimate goal is to achieve high-income country status.

The BETP addresses Botswana's heavy reliance on diamond revenue. This single commodity has driven growth since the 1970s. However, it also creates significant economic vulnerability. A recent slump in the global diamond market in 2024 highlighted this risk. High unemployment rates, reaching 32 percent in the Central District in early 2024, add urgency to the plan. The BETP aims to create 512,000 new jobs through these targeted projects.

Botswana currently holds an upper-middle-income status with a GNI per capita of US$7,750 in 2024. To reach the high-income threshold of US$15,730 by 2036, the country needs to sustain an annual GNI per capita growth of 6.1 percent. This is a significant increase from the 3.9 percent growth seen between 2000 and 2024. The government calls this approach "business unusual." The BETP represents a fundamental shift from past development strategies since independence.

The programme was developed through a rigorous process. It began with a public call for ideas in August 2025, yielding 6,925 submissions. These ideas were refined through collaborative problem-solving sessions. This narrowed the field to 186 projects, prioritized by GDP contribution, investment potential, job creation, and sustainability. The projects span agriculture, energy, education, manufacturing, tourism, infrastructure, healthcare, financial services, and social protection sectors.

A key focus is the energy sector's transformation. Botswana plans to increase its installed electricity generation capacity to over 10,000 megawatts by 2036. Currently, capacity stands at 965 megawatts, mainly from coal. Renewables will rise from 11 percent to 50 percent of the energy mix by 2030. This sector is also expected to contribute over 10 percent to GDP, up from its current 0.8 percent share. The grid upgrade alone requires BWP 6,739 million in private investment by 2030.