Botswana has broken ground on the Botswana World Trade Centre at Airport City in Gaborone, launching a major infrastructure project designed to reposition the country as a regional hub for trade, investment, exhibitions and business tourism. The development, valued at about P26.6 billion, or $1.9 billion, will be delivered through a partnership between the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and UAE-based AlBaddad Group.
The 126-hectare project forms Phase I of the broader New Botswana City development and will include the Botswana International Convention and Exhibition Centre, four international hotels, retail facilities and hospitality infrastructure. President Duma Boko led the official groundbreaking ceremony, describing the project as part of Botswana’s drive toward economic transformation, investment attraction and job creation. The development is expected to generate between 25,000 and 37,500 jobs during construction and operation, creating opportunities across construction, hospitality, events, logistics, security, retail and professional services. The location gives the project strategic weight.
Airport City sits within the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport Special Economic Zone, an area already positioned for investment in trade, aviation-linked services, corporate offices, technology, logistics and high-value commercial activity. Botswana’s Special Economic Zones Authority has previously described Airport City as a catalyst for economic growth, with plans for infrastructure, commercial spaces, industrial parks, residential areas, schools, hospitals and retail developments around the airport corridor.
For Botswana, the project fits into a long-running need to diversify beyond diamonds, which have historically shaped the country’s export earnings and public revenues.
A modern trade and convention district would give Gaborone a stronger platform to attract regional meetings, exhibitions, investors, and multinational companies looking for a stable Southern African base.
The partnership with AlBaddad Group also reflects the growing role of Gulf capital and expertise in African infrastructure. The UAE-based group brings experience in large-scale event infrastructure, modular construction and commercial development, while Botswana provides political stability, a strategic location and a strong investment climate in Southern Africa.
The planned convention and exhibition centre could become one of the most important components of the development. Across Africa, countries are competing for business tourism, investment summits, trade fairs, expos and high-level diplomatic meetings, all of which require modern venues, hotel capacity, efficient transport links and reliable services.
Botswana has already shown it can host major international gatherings, including the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, where World Trade Centre Delaware President Carla Stone praised the country’s ability to handle world-class events and its credible investment environment.
Airport City also builds on earlier public infrastructure commitments around the airport zone. Government-backed works have included road access, stormwater systems, water and sewer networks, electricity distribution, street lighting, pedestrian routes and telecommunications infrastructure for the first phase of the special economic zone. These investments matter because large private developments only succeed when supporting infrastructure works reliably.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the Botswana World Trade Centre carries a policy message. It signals that Botswana wants to compete for a larger share of regional commerce by creating a space where trade, finance, hospitality, exhibitions and investment promotion meet in one district. That approach mirrors how other competitive economies have used convention centres, airport cities and special economic zones to pull investment into targeted corridors. The jobs promise will draw close attention.
Large projects often announce ambitious employment numbers, but their real impact depends on how many jobs go to local workers, whether skills transfer takes place and whether Batswana-owned businesses gain access to contracts and supply chains. If properly structured, the project could support local contractors, youth employment, small enterprises, tourism operators and professional service providers. A development of this scale will also test execution.
Botswana will need disciplined project management, transparent procurement, strong urban planning, and clear safeguards to ensure the project supports national economic priorities rather than becoming an isolated real estate landmark. The opportunity is large, but so are the expectations attached to it. The groundbreaking at Airport City therefore marks more than the start of construction. It places Botswana’s diversification agenda into concrete form, with a project that could expand the country’s role in regional trade and business tourism if delivery matches ambition.