The commitment of the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) to share knowledge with small to medium enterprises regarding the listings value proposition and process is commendable, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said. Officiating at the Botswana Stock Exchange Tshipidi mentorship graduation ceremony in Gaborone on Septrember 27, President Masisi said the Tshipidi Mentorship Programme, with its comprehensive curriculum covering various critical aspects of preparing companies for listing, was testament to BSE�s commitment to fostering growth and development of the country�s business landscape. He thus said it was essential to recognise the immense potential and the positive impact the initiative could have on the economy. Through the programme, President Masisi said BSE was not only preparing companies for the stock exchange, but also nurturing a culture of responsible and ethical business practices that would drive economic prosperity for years to come. �By assisting companies in this journey, the programme not only paves the way for potential listings, but also contributes to the overall strengthening of corporate governance, transparency and accountability in our private sector and better management of companies,� President Masisi said. He said corporatisation, which involved transforming businesses into corporate entities, was a fundamental component of the programme and a crucial step towards preparing companies for listing on the stock exchange. He said a well-structured and organised corporate framework ensured that companies were better equipped to attract investment, manage risks and pursue sustainable growth and that it also instilled confidence in investors and shareholders both domestic and international. President Masisi highlighted the importance of listing on the stock exchange, indicating that it opened doors to capital and facilitated business expansion, as well as enhancing visibility and credibility. �Listing allows companies to access a broader investor base and in turn contributes to job creation and economic growth and it also gives Batswana an opportunity to participate in the economic share of the country by buying shares in companies doing business in Botswana and listed in the exchange,� he said. In this regard, President Masisi said there were 124 listed securities comprising 31 listed companies, 88 debt securities and five exchange-traded funds. He indicated that the total market capitalisation of the BSE amounted to P623.9 billion, comprising P596.7 billion on account of listed companies, P26.1 billion on account of debt securities and P1.1 billion attributable to exchange traded funds, which illustrates a 49 per cent increase to the total market capitalisation or the size of the BSE. Further, he said the trading activity had grown exponentially in 2023, registering an increase of 325.2 per cent to a total of P3.8 billion, which translated to an average of P21.8 million traded daily since the beginning of 2023. President Masisi attributed the exceptional increase in turnover in 2023 mainly to a record trade of P2.89 billion on September 4, which was the highest single-day trade ever recorded on the BSE. To that effect, President Masisi said the BSE was a vital platform for capital formation as it encouraged a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. �The BSE plays a pivotal role in mobilising domestic savings, channelling them into productive investments and supporting the growth of local enterprises,� he said. President Masisi thus said it was imperative to continue to foster an environment that was conducive to business growth and investment such as maintaining a stable macroeconomic framework and enhancing regulatory and legal infrastructure that would promote innovation and entrepreneurship.