Serame unveils spot for new BSE iconic head office

The Botswana Stock Exchange is readying itself for the new millennium with a recent announcement that it is constructing a new state of the art head office in the CBD. Minister Peggy Serame could not be at the unveiling but her speech was duly delivered by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary. The new BSE iconic HQ follows in the example of other Stock exchanges the world over that are identified by uniquely designed architecturally and aesthetically unique offices.

“This is a momentous occasion not only for the exchange, but for my Ministry and the country at large. This is because stock exchanges around the world are known to have iconinc buildings that not only house other financial institutions and employees, but contribute to the aesthetics of the city. The likes of NASDAQ in New York have iconic
buildings that have beautiful screens that project on Time Square where millions of people gather every year to be update themselves with the market and other global events.

Just next door, the JSE also has an iconic building in a financial district that resonates with its stature in the capital markets. In moving a step forward, BSE will be joining other stock exchanges such as JSE, Nasdaq and many more by creating a monumental building that will be landmark and a symbol of wealth creation in the Central Business District (CBD). Serame said the BSE has played a central and critical role in raising capital for new and existing companies in the country.

The same role played by stock exchanges around the world. “I am delighted that the exchange has moved step forward in its strategy by constructing its head office. This may I add, will also be important for the exchanges’
revenue generation and cost saving in the future as it opens up new revenue generation channels,” the minister added. The said iconic building is planned to be seven storeys high, with the BSE occupying one floor and leasing out the remaining space to tenants who offer complimentary services.

The building will be a state of the art, with visible and modern branding aesthetics that include the stock market bull and ticker, as well as illuminating signage for visibility purposes. In addition, the building will also have coffee shops, state of the art parkades and other amenities. The new home of the BSE will further enable Batswana to have easy
access to the BSE, in that there will be imporved common spaces to house more people during public events, as well as during meetings. Further, the design of the building will accommodate comfortable sitting and standing areas for stock exchange visitors to view the stock market price movement on the ticker and take pictures next to the
stock market bull.

“The project of this magnitude is anticipated to create employement for those in the construction business and complementary related industries. The project is invisaged to require the following skills; 12 professional team members, 15 skilled contractors, 75 semi skilled contractors, 60 unskilled contractors with a minimum variation of 127 and a maximum variation of 212. When complete, it will continue to create employment for those who will service the building. Employment creation is one of the prioritites of Government, therefore I would like to congradulate the BSE in making investments in the economy and also creating employment for Batswana,” Serame told the handpicked guests at the event. Government as the majority shareholder of the exchange has been
supportive of the exchange pre and post demutualization and is in great support of this project. The Ministry of Lands has also played an intergral role in providing land for this project.