Recently, Dangote Cement Company (Dangote Cement Plc), the largest cement producer in Africa, officially announced that it would set up a new manufacturing plant in Botswana. The investment marks the company's expansion to its 12th country on the continent and is seen as an important step in Botswana's drive to boost local manufacturing, reduce import dependency, create jobs and diversify the economy. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, the new chairman
of Dangote Cement, disclosed the plan at the Nigerian Exchange Group. He said the company chose Botswana in part to address the challenges facing the South African market. Although South Africa is one of the most industrialized countries in Africa, it is still a net importer of cement, mainly relying on Vietnam, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Mozambique. In 2023, South Africa's cement imports increased by 18% to 979,000 tons.
Ikazobo pointed out that Dangote Cement's plant in Botswana would not only better serve the South African market, but also enhance Botswana's local production capacity, reduce its dependence on South African business and enhance its overall profitability. "We are fully aware of the challenges of the South African market and have therefore chosen to build our plant in Botswana, which is geographically closer to the market," he stressed. The smooth progress of this
investment is inseparable from the active coordination of the Botswana Investment and Trade Center (BITC). In June 2024, BITC invited Dangote Cement to visit Botswana and arranged for it to hold talks with senior government officials, regulators and major retailers to gain an in-depth understanding of the local investment environment and market opportunities. This initiative of BITC reflects its strategic goal of promoting national industrialization, attracting foreign investment and promoting economic transformation. In recent years, the
government of Botswana has also actively promoted the development of local manufacturing industry at the policy level. Statutory Instrument 102 of 2025, implemented in 2025, restricts the import of pre-packaged cement, creating a more favorable market environment for local production enterprises. The entry of Dangote Cement, which coincides with the policy dividend period, is expected to have a positive impact on Botswana's cement supply chain.
At present, Dangote Cement has operated in Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The establishment of the plant in Botswana will not only further consolidate its leading position in the African market, but also bring new impetus for technology transfer, employment opportunities and economic growth to Botswana.
BITC said it would continue to work closely with Dangote Cement to ensure the smooth landing of the project and to promote Botswana as a regional manufacturing center to enhance its competitiveness in the global value chain.