Trade Up North

Trade Up North Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Trade Up North, Advertising/Marketing, P. O. Box 53597, Broadhurst.
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Trade Up North held annually in Francistown, Botswana, presents the latest technologies and equipment, services, machinery for Mining, Manufacturing and Construction Industries.

Visit my website: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw🎤 MODERATOR ANNOUNCED - Botswana at a Crossroads.Hard conversations need the rig...
18/06/2026

Visit my website: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

🎤 MODERATOR ANNOUNCED - Botswana at a Crossroads.

Hard conversations need the right moderator.

We’re proud to introduce Khulekani Khupe as a moderator for our headline panel:
“Botswana at a Crossroads: Diagnosing Today, Confronting the Past and Designing a Resilient Economic Future”

Who is Khulekani?
A seasoned Human Capital Management professional and certified leadership and executive coach. He builds high-performance teams for corporates, parastatals, and government. His work is simple: turn people and strategy into results.

Why him for this panel?
This isn’t a feel-good talk. We’re diagnosing Botswana’s economy. Confronting past decisions. Designing what’s next. Khulekani’s job is to keep our panelists honest, focused, and solution-driven. No slogans. Just hard truths and real plans.

If you want platitudes, skip this session. If you want the blueprint for Botswana’s economic future, be in the room

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

Visit my Website: www.tradeupnorth.co.bwOver the next 5 to 10 years, I envision Trade Up North becoming Botswana’s perma...
17/06/2026

Visit my Website: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

Over the next 5 to 10 years, I envision Trade Up North becoming Botswana’s permanent commercial gateway for citizen-owned SMEs — not just an annual event, but the platform where local businesses consistently access markets, capital, and technology.

In the short term, we’ll deepen the Deal Room model so every exhibitor leaves with qualified buyer meetings. We’ll expand supplier development so more SMEs move from trading to manufacturing and value addition. That’s industrialization in practice.

Longer term, the vision is regional. And I say that with added responsibility because I’ve just been appointed the Country Coordinator for Botswana under the All Africa Association for Small and Medium Enterprises, AAASME. That role aligns perfectly with where Trade Up North is headed.

Through AAASME, we can connect Botswana SMEs to markets across Africa under AfCFTA. Trade Up North will be the Botswana chapter of a continental pipeline — where a company that qualifies here can access buyers in Zambia, Namibia, Ghana etc. The goal is for ‘Made in Botswana’ to be a recognized brand in African supply chains.

So in 10 years, I want Trade Up North to be known for three things:
1. Contracts signed – measurable procurement won by Batswana SMEs.
2. Factories built – SMEs that graduate from booths to production lines.
3. Exports achieved – Botswana companies competing regionally, not just locally.

The platform starts in Francistown, but the ambition is African. With AAASME and our partners in government and private sector, we’ll make that happen.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

🎤 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT. Trade Up North 10th Anniversary.We’re honored to welcome Mr. Botsile Kebapetse, the Managing Dir...
16/06/2026

🎤 SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT. Trade Up North 10th Anniversary.

We’re honored to welcome Mr. Botsile Kebapetse, the Managing Director of Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), to the Trade Up North stage.

Topic:“Local Content Begins with Local Standards: BOBS Role in Botswana’s Mining Value Chain"

From PPE on mine sites to manufactured components for processing plants, companies can confidently and sustainably supply if they meet the requisite standards. BOBS is the gatekeeper to quality, compliance, and export readiness. Botsile Kebapetse will unpack how standards unlock contracts, protect workers, and build a competitive mining supply chain.

If you’re an SME wanting to supply the mines, or a mine wanting reliable local partners, this is the session.

SMEs, miners, manufacturers, and suppliers in the room.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

www.tradeupnorth.co.bwTrade Up North Mining, Manufacturing and Construction Conference and Exhibition is built around th...
15/06/2026

www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

Trade Up North Mining, Manufacturing and Construction Conference and Exhibition is built around the same problem government and industry are trying to solve: moving Botswana from resource dependence to a productive, industrial economy.

Three ways it aligns:

1. Import substitution through local supply chains – Our Deal Room and exhibition prioritize SMEs that manufacture, fabricate, and process locally. Every contract signed with a Motswana company is one less import, and that’s diversification in practice. We align with government’s push to keep more value in-country.

2. Supplier development for industrialization – Industrialization needs capable suppliers, not just policy. The conference sessions focus on standards, compliance, financing, and technology adoption. We’re preparing SMEs to meet the specs required by mining, construction, and manufacturing buyers. You can’t industrialize without industrial-ready suppliers.

3. Mining as an enabler, not the endpoint – This year’s theme captures it: ‘Navigating Botswana’s Diversified Future: Mining, Innovation and Growth’. We align by showing how mining procurement can anchor new industries — from PPE manufacturing to engineering services to construction materials. The conference connects mining demand with SME supply to spark new sectors.

So Trade Up North isn’t parallel to the national agenda. It’s a delivery mechanism for it. We take the diversification and industrialization goals set at policy level, and translate them into buyer meetings and deals at business level.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

www.tradeupnorth.co.bw 🎤 Speaker Alert: Kabo PhetlhuCEO of Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH), is confirmed for ...
15/06/2026

www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

🎤 Speaker Alert: Kabo Phetlhu

CEO of Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub (BDIH), is confirmed for Trade Up North Mining, Manufacturing and Construction Conference and Exhibition.

Topic: "Innovation in Mining and Manufacturing"

From smart sensors on mine sites to digital platforms for manufacturers, Botswana’s next industrial leap is digital. Kabo leads BDIH’s mandate to turn research and startups into real solutions for efficiency, safety, and value-add across mining and manufacturing.

This session connects the dots: how innovation moves us from exporting raw materials to owning technology and jobs.

BDIH is leading Botswana’s digital industrial shift. If you want tech solutions for your mine, factory, or supply chain, don’t miss this session.

BDIH is also the official Pavilion Sponsor - Botswana Innovators.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

www.tradeupnorth.co.bw50 Complimentary Exhibition Stalls.The 50 complimentary spaces are not a one-off gesture. They ref...
14/06/2026

www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

50 Complimentary Exhibition Stalls.

The 50 complimentary spaces are not a one-off gesture. They reflect a clear shift in how Botswana is thinking about economic transformation.

For years we talked about diversification in policy documents. Today we’re seeing it in budgets, procurement rules, and platforms like Trade Up North. That’s recognition. Recognition that citizen-owned SMEs are no longer the ‘informal sector’ on the side — they are the foundation of the economy we’re trying to build.

Why? Because mining can’t employ everyone. Because importing finished goods drains our foreign currency. Because every time a Motswana SME manufactures PPE, processes food, or fabricates a mining component locally, we keep money, skills, and jobs here.

Government is recognizing this by enforcing local content. Private sector is recognizing it by setting supplier development targets. And initiatives like the 50 free booths recognize it by investing directly in the suppliers themselves.

This reflects growing recognition. But recognition alone doesn’t create jobs. Recognition has to turn into contracts. That’s why Trade Up North exists — to move from ‘we value SMEs’ to ‘we’re buying from SMEs’. Over the next 10 years, that recognition must become measurable procurement and real factories. That’s the transformation.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

www.tradeupnorth.co.bwThe President’s participation sends the same message to all four audiences, but in different ways....
14/06/2026

www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

The President’s participation sends the same message to all four audiences, but in different ways.

To industry players – It’s a call to action. It says local content and supplier development are no longer optional. Big business and SOEs are expected to move from policy statements to real procurement with citizen-owned companies. The message is: partner with Batswana SMEs, because that’s how we build resilient supply chains.

To SMEs – It’s a signal of confidence and accountability. It tells entrepreneurs that government sees them as part of the solution, not just beneficiaries. But it also says ‘be ready’. The platform is there, the buyers are coming, the President is watching. Now deliver quality, meet standards, and compete.

To investors – It communicates stability and direction. Investors want policy consistency and markets. When the Head of State opens a platform focused on manufacturing and value addition, it signals that Botswana is serious about diversification. It tells them there’s a pipeline of local suppliers being developed and a market being built.

To the nation at large – The message is one of ownership. Botswana’s future can’t be outsourced. Diversification and industrialization will happen when citizens see themselves as producers, not just consumers. The President’s presence says: this economy belongs to all of us, and every Motswana with a viable business has a role to play.

In short, his participation turns Trade Up North from a business event into a national statement of intent.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

Www.tradeupnorth.co.bwThe motivation.....The motivation is simple: access. For 10 years we’ve seen amazing citizen-owned...
12/06/2026

Www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

The motivation.....

The motivation is simple: access. For 10 years we’ve seen amazing citizen-owned SMEs with great products, but they can’t get in front of buyers because exhibition costs are a barrier. We kept hearing ‘I can’t afford a booth, but I can deliver the contract.’ So we removed the excuse.

We set aside 50 complimentary spaces specifically for citizen-owned businesses because procurement doesn’t happen if suppliers aren’t visible. Government and private sector buyers are coming to Trade Up North looking to spend. If a Motswana entrepreneur is missing from the room, we all lose.

The impact we hope to create is 3-fold:
1. Market entry – Give early-stage and rural SMEs their first real platform to meet procurement managers, test their products, and get feedback. For many, this will be their first deal conversation.
2. Confidence – When you exhibit next to established players and see buyers taking you seriously, it changes how you see your own business. You stop thinking ‘small’ and start thinking ‘supplier’.
3. Pipeline building – In 3-5 years, we want some of those 50 businesses to graduate from free booths to anchor exhibitors. To move from 3m x 3m to owning a factory. That’s how we measure success.

This isn’t charity. It’s investment. Every p**a we waive on booth fees, we expect to return as contracts signed, jobs created, and imports replaced. If even 10 of those 50 businesses secure real procurement after the event, then the initiative pays for itself many times over.

The message is: if you’re citizen-owned, production-ready, and serious about growth, there’s a space for you at Trade Up North. We’ll cover the cost. You bring the product.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

The Aims.....The aims for Trade Up North 2026 are simple and outcome-focused. Primary objectives are threefold:1. Conver...
08/06/2026

The Aims.....

The aims for Trade Up North 2026 are simple and outcome-focused.

Primary objectives are threefold:

1. Convert opportunity into contracts – Through the Deal Room, we’re pre-matching Batswana SMEs in mining, manufacturing, and construction with buyers from government, SOEs, and private sector. The goal is meetings that lead to tenders, and tenders that lead to business.

2. Build supplier readiness – The conference will demystify procurement, compliance, standards, and financing. SMEs can’t compete if they don’t understand the buyer’s requirements. We’re bringing in technical experts to give practical, ‘how-to’ guidance, not just policy talk.

3. Drive diversification through innovation – Aligned with the theme "Navigating Botswana’s Diversified Future: Mining, Innovation and Growth", we’re spotlighting SMEs that are moving from trading to manufacturing and value addition. The exhibition gives them a platform to showcase products and solutions that reduce imports and strengthen local supply chains.

Overall, Trade Up North 2026 is not about attendance numbers. It’s about creating a pipeline where local businesses are visible, qualified, and ready to participate in Botswana’s diversified economy.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko.

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw

Speaker Announcement 🎤We’re proud to announce Shamiso Fred, VP Southern Africa at 'All Africa Association of Small and M...
07/06/2026

Speaker Announcement 🎤

We’re proud to announce Shamiso Fred, VP Southern Africa at 'All Africa Association of Small and Medium Enterprises' (AAASME).

Topic:
“Ubuntu Susu Continental SME Fund: Unlocking Capital for Botswana’s Contractors in Mining, Manufacturing & Construction Value Chains."

Shamiso will break down how the new Ubuntu Susu Fund is structured to get working capital and project finance into the hands of Botswana contractors and SMEs across the 3 highest-growth sectors.

If you’re a contractor, manufacturer, or supplier looking to scale with real funding behind you, this session is for you. Limited slots. Secure yours now.

This year, Trade Up North Conference and Exhibition 10th Anniversary will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Gideon Boko,

📍 Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel, Francistown, Botswana | 23rd July 2026
Register Now at: www.tradeupnorth.co.bw


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P. O. Box 53597
Broadhurst
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