Strengthening BE at UP’s international footprint in Botswana and Namibia

As part of its strategic focus on Africa, Business Enterprises at University of Pretoria (Pty) Ltd (BE at UP) has recently visited Botswana and Namibia to strengthen relationships with existing clients and to market its services to potential clients. BE at UP is also a firm believer in working together with local partners in other countries and were able to foster relationships in this regard. 

During the visit to Namibia entities visited include the University of Namibia, NamLITS, the Namibia Meat Board, NamPower, TransNamib, the National Commission on Research Science and Technology and Debmarine. The Namibia Meat Board and NamPower are both existing clients of BE at UP. BE at UP has been supporting the Namibia Meat Board regarding international health import standards of meat production and is currently assisting NamPower with air quality monitoring on the NamPower Kudu Combined Cycle Gas Turbine project.

In Botswana, the delegation visited Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board, Chervil, Botswana Railways, the University of Botswana, Botswana Insurance Holdings and the National Food Technology Research Centre (NFTRC). In the past, BE at UP has done work for Botswana Railways and Botswana Insurance Holdings and it could convey new developments applicable to previous work conducted.

Visits of this nature are invaluable in gaining understanding and insight into business needs and challenges. It also enables BE at UP to adequately respond by linking specialist expertise with proposed solutions. The various proposals put forward to the entities include the possibilities to work together on strategic themes and the development of innovative strategies and solutions.

Internationally, BE at UP has a good service delivery record and in 2014 completed 69 projects for 42 clients in 20 countries. For 2015, BE at UP further plan to visit Zambia and to make a second visit to Botswana.