GABORONE, BOTSWANA (02/23/2000) - A Botswana government project designed to attract foreign investors and multinational firms has brought with it increased demand for electronic commerce services, and local online directory Business Advertiser (Bizad) aims to fill that need.
The e-commerce services will be launched on March 7, according to David Kapaletswe, technical director of the eight-month-old company. In response to the need Bizad has found for e-commerce providers, the company is developing web sites for merchants, serving both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets, he said in an interview.
According to Kapalestwe, Bizad has developed and tested e-commerce sites for seven companies, but only one - AA Botswana's -- will be hosted on launching day. It will be used to demonstrate the possibilities of the medium to interested but pessimistic business people.
Bizad has credibility in developing and hosting sites because it is a partner to a leading South African e-commerce provider, Ecnet, part of Comparex Holdings, Kapaletswe said. For security, it has implemented digital certification and authentication systems, he said, using the South African Certification Authority and VeriSign Digital Certificates.
Kapalestwe acknowledged that Botswana has very few credit card holders but maintained that the number is growing rapidly. In addition, he said, smart cards to be introduced later this year have been anticipated by the company's e-commerce systems. Another factor holding down use of e-commerce is the low rate of PC ownership and Internet connectivity. Nonetheless, he said, the market is growing quickly.
Bizad plans later this year to take online shopping to the masses via the building of 80 public computer terminals in Gaborone, Kapalestwe said. The company seeks to integrate Botswana into the global economy via e-commerce.
Bizad can be reached on the web at http://www.bizad.bw.