Submitted By: Shashank (08345)
Sreyasi (08346)
Sundeep (08347)
Sunil (08348)
Botswana
Botswanais officially known as theRepublic of Botswana is
alandlocked countrylocated in Southern Africa.It was once one of
the poorest countries in the world Botswana has since transformed
itself into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, now
boasting a GDP (purchasing power parity) per capita of about
$16,400 per year as of 2013.Its high gross national income(by some
estimates the fourth-largest in Africa) gives the country a modest
standard of living and the highest Human Development Indexof
continentalSub-Saharan Africa.
Botswana is a member of theAfrican Union, theSouthern African
Development Community, theCommonwealth of Nations, and the United
Nations. Its a political stable and relative socioeconomic
prosperity.
Geography
Botswana is the world's 48th-largest country (Area 581,730km2).
It lies between latitudes17and27S, and longitudes20and30E.The
country is predominantly flat, tending toward gently
rollingtableland. Botswana is dominated by theKalahari Desert,
which covers up to 70% of its land surface. TheOkavango Delta, one
of the world's largest inlanddeltas, is in the northwest.
TheMakgadikgadi Pan, a largesalt pan, lies in the north.
TheLimpopo RiverBasin, the major landform of all of southern
Africa, lies partly in Botswana, with the basins of its tributaries
located in the eastern part of the country. The Notwane provides
water to the capital through theGaborone Dam. TheChobe Riverlies to
the north, providing a boundary between Botswana and
Namibia'sZambezi Region.
Politics
TheConstitution of Botswanais therule of lawwhich protects the
citizens of Botswana and represents their rights. The politics of
Botswana take place in a framework of arepresentative
democraticrepublic, whereby thePresident of Botswanais bothhead of
stateand head of government, and of amulti-party system. Since
independence was declared, the party system has been dominated by
theBotswana Democratic Party. Thejudiciaryis independent of the
executive and the legislature.
According toTransparency International, Botswana is the least
corrupt country in Africa.
Economy
TheBank of Botswanaserves as acentral bankin order to develop
and maintain theBotswana pula, the country's currency. Since
independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in
per capita income in the world.Botswana has transformed itself from
one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income
country. By one estimate, it has the fourth highestgross national
incomeatpurchasing power parityin Africa. TheMinistry of Trade and
Industry of Botswanais responsible for promotingbusiness
developmentthroughout the country. Botswana has ahigh level of
economic freedomcompared to other African countries.The government
has maintained a soundfiscal policy, despite consecutivebudget
deficitsin 2002 and 2003, and a negligible level offoreign debt. It
earned the highest sovereigncredit ratingin Africa and has
stockpiled foreign exchange reserves An array of financial
institutions populates the country's financial system, with pension
funds and commercial banks being the two most important segments by
asset size. Banks remain profitable, well-capitalized, and liquid,
as a result of growing national resources and high interest
rates.
Botswana's competitive banking system is one of Africa's most
advanced. Generally adhering to global standards in the
transparency of financial policies and banking supervision, the
financial sector provides ample access to credit for
entrepreneurs.The opening of Capital Bank in 2008 brought the total
number of licensed banks to eight.The government is involved in
banking through state-owned financial institutions and a special
financial incentives program that is aimed at increasing Botswana's
status as a financial centre.Credit is allocated on market terms,
although the government provides subsidized loans.Reform ofnon-bank
financial institutionshas continued in recent years, notably
through the establishment of a single financial regulatory agency
that provides more effective supervision.The government has
abolished exchange controls, the Botswana Stock Exchange is
growing.
Bilateral Agreements/MOUs
The two countries have signed the following agreements:
1. Cultural Exchange Agreement signed in May 1997;
2. Bilateral Trade Agreement signed in January 2001;
3. Protocol for Foreign office consultations signed in October
2002;
4. Agreement on Cooperation on Bilateral Cooperation;
5. Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation;
6. Programme for Cultural Cooperation signed in 2007;
7. Pan African E-Network Project signed in 2008;
8. MoU on Cooperation in Agriculture signed in Jan 2010 ;
9. Educational Exchange Programme signed in Jan 2010;
10. MoU on MSME / SMME signed in June 2010;
11. MoU on Science & Technology signed in June 2010;
12. MOUs between NSIC of India and Local Enterprises;
13. Agreement on the Establishment of Joint Ministerial
Commission
Trade & Commerce:
CII, FICCI; India have been playing an important role in
creating investment opportunities between two countries. The main
items of exports from India have been manufactured goods, metals,
machinery and instruments, cotton yarn, fabrics, ready-made
garments, drugs & pharmaceuticals and transport equipment.
Bilateral trade between India and Botswana although is not very
significantly large, it has been growing steadily. A 25-member
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation visited Botswana
and held detailed discussions with the concerned Ministries as well
as members of the Botswanas business Community on possible
cooperation in the fields of agriculture and dairy; small &
medium industries; health and education, infrastructure,
information technology, communications, manufacturing ,etc. A 29
member business delegation was sponsored by the FIEO/NSIC attended
the Botswana Global Expo. The opening of Botswana Export
Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA)s in New Delhi and
Mumbai have given further impetus to bilateral trade and
investment. Botswana seeks Indian investments in the areas of
agriculture and dairy; industry especially in diamonds and small
& medium industries as well as labour-oriented industries;
assistance in telecommunication and IT Sector investment in mining
Coal & diamond.
Two new Indian banks, State Bank of India and Bank of India have
been awarded licenses by the Bank of Botswana to start their
banking operations in Botswana. The Banks which have already opened
their offices in Gaborone are in the process of setting up their
operations.
The Indian businessmen have shown keen interest in the
development of downstream industries in the diamond sector viz.
cutting and polishing of the rough diamonds.
The Indian company M/s Jindal Steel and Power Limited has
acquired Mmamabula coal-fields to generate coal and produce
electricity for meeting countrys power needs. JSPL is expected to
give a great boost to Botswanas economy with the development of
Mmamabula Energy Project (MEP). over the next decade, with many
more downstream industries and diversification of Botswanas economy
coming in its wake.
Export Promotion Council
There are at present eleven Export Promotion Councils under the
administrative control of the Department of Commerce and nine
export promotion councils related to textile sector under the
administrative control of Ministry of Textiles. These Councils are
registered as non -profit organizations under the Companies
Act/Societies Registration Act.These Councils are also the
registering authorities under the Export Import
Policy,1997-2002.These Councils have been assigned the role and
functions under the said Policy.
Export Promotion Councils under Department of Commerce
Engineering Export Promotion Council, Project Exports Promotion
Council of India, Basic Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics
Export Promotion Council, CAPEXIL, Council for Leather Exports,
Sports Goods Export Promotion Council, Gem and Jewellery Export
Promotion Council, Shellac Export Promotion Council, Cashew Export
Promotion Council, The Plastics Export Promotion Council, Export
Promotion Council For Eous & SEZ Units, Pharmaceutical Export
Promotion Council.
Export Promotion Councils under Ministry of Textiles
Apparel Export Promotion Council, Carpet Export Promotion
Council, Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council, Export Promotion
Council for Handicrafts, Handloom Export Promotion Council, Indian
Silk Export Promotion Council, Powerloom Developmentexport
Promotion Council, Synthetic & Rayon Textile Export Promotion
Council, Wool & Woolens Export Promotion Council
Commodity Boards
There are five statutoryCommodity Boardsunder the Department of
Commerce. These Boards are responsible for production, development
and export of tea, coffee, rubber, spices and tobacco, Rubber
Board, Coffee Board, Tea Board, Tobacco Board, Spices Board
Public Sector Undertakings under Department of Commerce
The following trading/service public sector undertakings are
functioning under the administrative control of the Department of
Commerce.Apart from these there is state trading corporation of
India and other autonomies bodies and organizations like Indian
diamond Institute, Federation of Indian Export Organization
etc.
BENIN
GEOGRAPHY:
Benin, a restricted, northsouth segment of area in west Africa,
lies between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Benin lies
between latitudes 6 and 13n, and longitudes 0 and 4e. Benin is
limited by Togo to the west, Burkina Faso and Niger to the north,
Nigeria to the east, and the Bight of Benin to the south. With a
territory of 112,622 km2, Benin stretches out from the Niger River
in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south, a separation of
650 km. Despite the fact that the coastline measures 121 km the
nation measures around 325 km at its largest point. It is one of
the smallest nations in West Africa, one-eighth the extent of
Nigeria, its neighbor to the east. It is, on the other hand, twice
as vast as Togo, its neighbor to the west.
Benin indicates little variety in rise and could be isolated
into four territories from the south to the north, beginning with
the low-lying, sandy, waterfront plain (most noteworthy height 10 m
(32.8 ft)) which is, at most, 10 km (6.2 mi) wide. It is damp and
specked with lakes and tidal ponds corresponding with the sea.
Behind the coast lies the Guinean woods savanna mosaic-secured
plateaus of southern Benin (height somewhere around 20 and 200 m
(66 and 656 ft)), which are part by valleys running north to south
along the Couffo, Zou, and Oueme Rivers. Also it has an area of
flat lands and rough slopes whose height achieves 400 m (1,312 ft)
and stretches out around Nikki and Save. There is also a range of
mountains which stretches out along the northwest outskirt and into
Togo; this is the Atacora, whose highest point,is Mont Sokbaro, at
658 m (2,159 ft).
Benin's atmosphere is hot and humid. Annual rainfall in the
coastal area is approximately 1300 mm. Benin has two rainy and two
dry seasons for every year. The rainy season is from April to late
July, with a shorter rainy period from late September to November.
The primary dry season is from December to April, with a short
cooler dry season from late July to early September. Temperatures
and moistness are high along the tropical coast. In Cotonou, the
highest temperature is 31 c (87.8 f); the minimum is 24 c (75.2 f).
The temperature variation increases when moving north through a
savanna and plateau toward the Sahel. A dry wind from the Sahara
called the Harmattan blows from December to March, because of the
which grass goes away, the vegetation turns brown, and wave of
dusts covers the nation, which makes the sky cover with grey cloud
and make it dull
.
ECONOMY:
The economy of Benin is mostly dependent on agriculture, cotton
production, and regional trade. Cotton represents 40% of GDP and
approximately 80% of official exports. The most produced items are
palm items, cocoa beans. Maize (corn), beans, rice, peanuts,
cashews, pineapples, cassava, yams, and different tubers are
developed for subsistence. Benin started delivering a significant
amount of offshore oil in October 1982. Production has stopped in
recent years but exploration of new sites is still continuing. The
fishing fleet provides fish and shrimp for local markets and export
to Europe. The business which were previously own by Govt. are now
privatized. A French brewer acquired the previous state-run
brewery. Smaller businesses are privately owned by Beninese
citizens, but some firms are also owned by foreign organizations,
mainly French and Lebanese. The private businesses and agricultural
businesses contributes the most in the growth of the country.After
a change in government in 1990, when a democratic government came
in, Benin has experienced a huge economic transformation. A
substantial infusion of external investment from both private and
public sources has assuaged the financial troubles of the early
1990s created by worldwide recession and diligently low item costs
(in spite of the fact that this still keeps on influencing the
economy). The manufacturing sector is mainly kept to some light
industry, which is for the most part included in transforming
essential items and the production of consumer merchandise. A joint
hydroelectric project with neighboring Togo is proposed to diminish
Benin's reliance on imported energy mostly from Ghana, which
presently represents a huge extent of the nation's imports. The
service sector has grown very fast, stimulated by financial
liberalization and monetary change, and the utilization of advanced
engineering, and the use of modern technology such as automobiles
and computers has grown considerably as a result. Participation of
the CFA Franc Zone offers reasonable currency stability and in
addition access to French financial backing. Benin offers its items
primarily to France and, in small amounts, to the Netherlands,
Korea, Japan, and India. France is Benin's heading hotspot for
imports. Benin is additionally a part of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS).
Regardless of its fast development, the economy of Benin still
stays immature and subject to subsistence agribusiness, cotton
creation, and territorial exchange. Growth in real output averaged
around 5% since 1996, but a rapid population rise offset much of
this development on a per capita basis. Inflation has subsided over
the past a few years. Business and transport exercises, which make
up a substantial portion of GDP, are vulnerable against
improvements in Nigeria, especially fuel deficiencies. Despite the
fact that trade unions in Benin contributes up to 75% of the formal
workforce, the extensive casual economy has been noted by the
International Trade Union Confederation (ITCU) to contain
continuous issues, including an absence of ladies' pay equity, the
utilization of child labor, and the proceeding with issue of
constrained labor.
India Benin trade:
Population (millions)- 9.1, GDP (US$ billions)- 7.4, GDP per
capita (US$)- 794.Formerly known as Dahomey, Benin is one of the
most stable countries in Africa. Benin registered Rs.4384.08 crore
as against Rs.2276.32 crore and recorded a growth of 92.60 percent
over the period. Benin is the third largest trade partner, third
largest export destination and sixth largest import source of India
among West African countries.
Major exports table:
Benin is Indias sixth largest export destination of non-basmati
rice, accounting for 5.2 percent of Indias global exports.Major
imported items of India from Benin in 2011-12 included raw cashew
.Benin is the third largest source of Indias imports of raw cashew
nuts, after Cte dIvoire and Guinea-Bissau, accounting for 14.8
percent of Indias global imports of the same
Both nations are part of the Non-Aligned Movement. Benin
supports India's candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed
Security Council. India is one of Benin's largest trading partners
and is the third largest export market for Benin, with exports
being primarily in agro-products such as cashew nuts and cotton.
India recently launched a Duty Free Tariff Preferences regime to
promote trade with Benin.Till 2007-08, Benin was allotted 5 seats
under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme
which was increased to 10 after the India-Africa Forum Summit.A
Line of Credit of $ 15 million for agricultural equipment was
announced by PM during President Boni Yayis visit to India in March
2009. Two grants of $1 million each for mutually identified
projects in health and education sectors have also been utilized.
An IT Centre of Excellence as well as Centre of Demonstration of
Technology was to be set up with Indian grants.
Following is Data for Export from India to Benin.
S.No. Country 2012-2013 %Share 2013-2014 %Share %Growth
1. BENIN 260,476.270.1594 463,642.150.2434 78.00
India's Total Export163,431,883.77 190,501,108.86 16.56
S.No. Country 2011-2012 %Share 2012-2013 %Share %Growth
1. BENIN 308,301.100.2103 260,476.270.1594 -15.51
India's Total Export146,595,939.96 163,431,883.77 11.48
In terms of doing business rank Benin stands at 174 whereas
India stands at 134. Global competitive index of Benin classifies
it as Factor driven economies Ranking 130 out of 148 countries.
India ranks 60 out of 148countries.
