Page 22 - issue 21

22 In The News

• Company is
Flotek to set up a consistently investing

plastics training in its manufacturing

plant in Botswana
institute in through new product

Botswana innovation for the

regional market.

time. Botswana has allowed flotek to
perform well due to its relatively simple
and friendly labor policies which make
it a more favorable destination for its
capital.

In his presentation Mr Naik spoke on
the future of local manufacturing.
He elaborated on areas that needed
attention such as the immigration
policy. He said ,“there needs to be
further policy clarity around whether
people with skills or capital can setup
in Botswana and what are the exact
Mr Kunal Naik , Managing Director of Flotek requirements for this.”
img credit : patriot
On expansion of trade agreements he
said SACU and SADC is sacrosanct for
hen we talk about success innovation for the regional market.Mr most manufacturing businesses and is
stories about companies Naik highlighted some of the constant for ours as well.
Wwhich have made it from hurdles they incur within their industry.
Botswana, Flotek comes to mind. This He spoke about a small market place When it comes to licensing he suggested
company started a single production being one of the challenges. that maybe the governing committees
line in Lobatse in 1998. or regulators can make the setup of
Today they are the largest manufacturer “we believe the market is 242 million a manufacturing business less over
of PVC and HDPE pipes in Southern which is the entire SADC region and regulated and lessen processing time.
Africa. Mr Kunal Naik,Managing Director also set our quality to international
of Flotek spoke at the FNB Budget standards. We are easily able to export As a last note he put across the point
review event . to because of the SACU and other trade that there is need for more targeted
agreements and we have the SABS tertiary education spend and tertiary
He also told the attendees that it is an mark of quality,” he said. education needs to be more focused on
export led business with supply into actual job opportunities and perhaps
the entire SADC region with 70% of Narrow technical talent base for the practical skills. Such courses he said may
production being exported. sector was also a factor and he said need to receive preferential funding.
“We employ over 500 people in this challenge was resolved through As a suggestion he said there needs
Botswana, 100 in Angola and 100 in importing of skills. On this setback, to be infrastructure to setup industrial
South Africa.” Flotek is consistently Flotek is willing to make the most of this zones with ready-made warehouses and
investing in its manufacturing plant and set up a plastics training institute in factory sheds to make the future easier
in Botswana through new product Botswana to ease this over a period of for potential manufacturing companies.

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