The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) will host its inaugural listings conference on 10 March at the Gaborone International Conference Centre with the objective of attracting private companies to list.

The BSE conference, under the theme Opening the BSE to the Business Community – Creating Value through Listing aims to discuss the benefits for private companies of listing on the BSE, the listing process and requirements.

According to organisers companies already listed will share lessons on how they created value through a BSE listing and used the opportunity to expand products and services outside Botswana, while experts will discuss ways in which Botswana companies can use growth prospects in Africa to expand their businesses.

Delegates will also be able to hear about the cross-border experiences of companies listed on other stock exchanges in the region.

"We would like to attract more privately-held companies which have the potential to list on the BSE by initiating a dialogue between these companies, the BSE and other capital markets stakeholders via presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities at our conference," says BSE chief executive Thapelo Tsheole. "We have invited over 120 private companies in Botswana to attend."

The BSE says since its inception in 1989, it has grown from five listed companies to 32 companies, 38 listed debt securities and four exchange traded funds.

"Trading levels have increased dramatically over the years as a result of infrastructure developments such the Central Securities Depository (CSD) System and the Automated Trading System (ATS), market development initiatives and increased product offerings. In 2015, the BSE registered a record total turnover of P3-billion," the Exchange states.

Pauline Motswagae, head of RMB Botswana, primary sponsor of the conference, says, "By listing on the BSE, companies acquire access to a new form of capital which usually takes them onto on a new growth trajectory."