Botswana is shifting from simply extracting minerals to adding value and benefitting from them domestically, with International Relations Minister Phenyo Butale saying the strategy is central to driving industrialisation and expanding employment opportunities.
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 where he joined global leaders and experts discussing the strategic importance of critical minerals, Butale said Botswana’s new approach aims to ensure that the country captures a greater share of the economic gains from its mineral wealth.
He said the government is prioritising beneficiation, deeper local participation in the minerals value chain and broader citizen empowerment.
The panel examined how critical minerals have become central to the global energy transition, industrial growth and technological development, with rising demand pushing countries to secure stable supply chains.
Participants noted that geopolitical tensions have exposed vulnerabilities in existing supply routes, prompting governments to diversify sources and strengthen regional partnerships.
Butale said Botswana intends to position itself as more than a supplier of raw materials, arguing that value addition is essential for long‑term economic transformation.
He said the shift is designed to stimulate domestic industries, create skilled jobs and ensure that mineral revenues contribute more directly to national development.
Panellists also highlighted the need for transparent and sustainable mining practices, common standards for mineral extraction and trade, and investment in skills development to support the sector’s future growth.
They stressed that cooperation – rather than competition – will be key to building resilient mineral supply chains in an increasingly contested global landscape.
Botswana, one of the world’s leading producers of diamonds and a growing player in other critical minerals, has in recent years intensified efforts to negotiate greater downstream participation in mineral processing and marketing.
The government has framed beneficiation as a pillar of its industrialisation agenda and a pathway to reducing dependence on raw commodity exports.
JN/APA