Trade Up North celebrates ten years of empowering Botswana's SMEs

Trade Up North, a platform designed to connect Botswana's small and medium enterprises SMEs with buyers, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Initially conceived to address the challenge of SMEs gaining access to procurement decision-makers, the initiative has evolved from a conventional trade exhibition into a significant supplier development platform. Its success is measured by contracts signed rather than attendance figures. Founder Vuyiswa LeVuyo Mojela noted that early challenges stemmed from a lack of direct engagement between businesses and procurement teams. The platform shifted its focus to structured business-to-business meetings, procurement education, and alignment with Botswana's industrialisation goals. A key innovation was the "Deal Room" model, which pre-matches SMEs with procurement teams from government, state-owned enterprises, mining companies, manufacturers, and major contractors. This approach has helped many SMEs become recognised suppliers, securing contracts and creating employment. Despite its success, the journey has faced hurdles, including changing SME mindsets, as many initially viewed exhibitions as solely marketing opportunities, while buyers sought compliance and operational readiness. Bridging the trust gap between large buyers and local suppliers also required patience. Funding growth has been another challenge, necessitating strategic partnerships with government, corporate sponsors, and development agencies. The platform's philosophy emph