This morning, 12 September 2025, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) hosted the Hemp Innovations Europe (HIE) AB Memorandum of Understanding Handshake Ceremony. The event, held in partnership with the Office of the President, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), and the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI), marked a significant step toward diversifying Botswana’s economy through industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.
The MOU establishes collaboration between HIE, BUAN, NARDI, and the Office of the President in education, research, value chain development, policy advocacy, and innovation. The focus is on building sustainable agriculture and bio-based industries in Botswana while laying the foundation for a hemp value chain.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Permanent Secretary Joel Ramaphoi emphasized that the handshake ceremony reflected government’s decision to allow licit cultivation and processing of industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis. He noted that the industries have the potential to multiply jobs, attract investment, and stimulate industrial linkages across multiple sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, Seeng Manne, stated that the ministry is developing a framework to facilitate the establishment of the sector. She explained that the decision to legalize hemp and medicinal cannabis will diversify agricultural production, attract sustainable investment, and position Botswana as a regional leader in emerging green industries. Manne urged all implementing agencies to act swiftly to ensure successful execution of the HIE partnership and pledged the ministry’s support in resolving challenges investors may encounter.
Representing Hemp Innovations Europe, Founder and CEO Clas Dahlin expressed gratitude to the Botswana Government and stakeholders for their commitment. He stressed that the hemp industry has vast potential to diversify Botswana’s economy, calling the government’s decision a paradigm shift in economic policy. Dahlin applauded the collaborative spirit of Botswana’s institutions in creating a conducive environment for investment and emphasized that the foundation for a thriving hemp industry is being laid.
The signing of this MOU signals Botswana’s readiness to embrace innovative agricultural ventures. With government backing, institutional support, and international collaboration, the industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis sector is poised to contribute to job creation, sustainable growth, and economic diversification in the years ahead.
