Small businesses in Francistown have been urged to register their enterprises to ensure harmony and compliance with city regulations.
The call was made by City Mayor, Mr. Godisang Radisigo, on Wednesday during a joint Francistown City Council and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) workshop on financial literacy and small business management.
The workshop aimed to empower small businesses and is part of the Informal Sector Strategy adopted in 2022, aligned with the city’s transformation agenda to stimulate growth in the sector.
Mr. Radisigo emphasized the importance of the informal sector to the growth of both businesses and the country, stating, “Registering businesses with the city council will prevent unnecessary conflicts with city authorities.”
He urged attendees to actively engage and learn from the training to foster sector growth and achieve greater financial success. The training is designed to provide knowledge and skills that will help businesses thrive and contribute to Francistown’s development aspirations.
Ms. Kefhilwe Mokotedi, the UNDP project manager for Inclusive Economic Diversification, highlighted the workshop’s goal to strengthen the informal sector’s resilience against economic shocks, noting lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three-day workshop seeks to educate participants on financial prudence, record-keeping, and other essential business practices to maximize growth.
Dr. Gladys Gamariel, the consultant for the workshop, stressed the need for a mindset change among entrepreneurs, asserting that a well-equipped mindset is crucial for scaling businesses successfully.
