23 July 2026 | Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel | Francistown, Botswana
As Botswana accelerates its economic diversification agenda, Trade Up North 2026 stands at the forefront of industrial collaboration, supplier development, and regional trade integration across Southern Africa.
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary Edition, Trade Up North has evolved into Botswana’s premier B2B procurement and supplier engagement platform — connecting SMEs, manufacturers, contractors, and service providers directly with buyers, project owners, government agencies, and strategic partners across the SADC region.
Hosted in Francistown, Botswana’s industrial gateway to the north, the platform creates a focused environment where procurement opportunities are transformed into commercial contracts, strategic partnerships, and scalable regional business opportunities.
Building Markets for African SMEs
At the center of Trade Up North’s growth story is its founding director and lead organizer, Vuyiswa Mojela — a communications strategist, business development specialist, and passionate advocate for SME inclusion within Africa’s industrial economy.
“I’m a connector who believes African SMEs should have direct access to contracts, markets, and growth opportunities,” says Mojela.
For over 15 years, Mojela has worked at the intersection of communications, stakeholder engagement, supplier development, and business networking. As Director of Soapbox Communications, she led public relations and strategic engagement campaigns for organizations operating in mining, manufacturing, infrastructure, and the public sector.
Her work focused on helping companies become visible, credible, and partnership-ready within highly competitive industrial environments.
Today, through Trade Up North, Mojela has shifted her focus toward building commercially driven platforms that translate Botswana’s diversification strategy into practical business outcomes for SMEs and regional suppliers.
“We bring buyers like mines, government ministries, and infrastructure stakeholders into the room with SMEs through curated Deal Rooms and structured one-on-one meetings,” she explains. “The objective is not simply networking — it is creating direct commercial engagement.”
Her hands-on, relationship-driven approach has become one of the defining features of Trade Up North’s success. By prioritizing targeted matchmaking over traditional exhibition models, the platform ensures suppliers engage directly with procurement-ready buyers and active project pipelines.
“What drives me is seeing a small business walk away with a contract, a partnership, or a clear path to scale,” says Mojela. “I’m obsessed with making procurement accessible.”
A Strategic Industrial Marketplace
Trade Up North is purpose-built around active procurement opportunities and sector-specific deal-making. Unlike conventional trade fairs, every aspect of the event is aligned to real project demand, local content objectives, and regional supply chain development.
The event will be officially opened by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana, reinforcing national commitment to industrialization, supplier development, and economic diversification.
The 2026 edition will focus on six strategic sectors:
- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Infrastructure
- Energy
- Industrial Services
Spotlight Sectors: Mining, Manufacturing & Construction
Mining Sector Opportunities
Botswana’s mining industry continues to generate significant procurement demand across equipment, engineering, maintenance, safety, and beneficiation services.
Trade Up North seeks suppliers involved in:
- Heavy mining equipment and spare parts
- Haul trucks, excavators, drills, loaders, and pumps
- Underground and open-pit mining technologies
- Mineral processing and beneficiation solutions
- PPE, safety systems, and monitoring technologies
- Maintenance and overhaul services
- Energy systems for mining operations
- Industrial consumables and chemical reagents
Expected buyers include leading mines, contractors, and state-linked industrial operators from Botswana and the wider SADC region.
Manufacturing Sector Growth
As Botswana expands industrial production and regional value chains, manufacturing remains central to the country’s diversification ambitions.
Opportunities include:
- Industrial machinery and automation systems
- Packaging and food processing technologies
- Steel fabrication and welding solutions
- Production inputs and raw materials
- Warehousing and logistics systems
- Quality control and testing equipment
Trade Up North also supports cross-border industrial partnerships between Botswana and neighboring SADC economies.
Construction & Infrastructure Development
Rapid infrastructure expansion across Southern Africa continues to create demand for construction technologies, engineering solutions, and building materials.
Areas of focus include:
- Construction machinery and heavy vehicles
- Cement, steel, roofing, and aggregates
- Road construction and civil engineering equipment
- Water and sanitation infrastructure
- Public works and infrastructure technologies
Why Trade Up North Matters
Direct Buyer Access
Trade Up North provides direct engagement with procurement decision-makers from:
- Botswana Railways
- Debswana
- Morupule Coal Mine
- Botash
- Khoemacau
- Sandfire Mine
- Government ministries and SOEs
- EPC contractors and infrastructure agencies
This creates a high-value environment where suppliers engage directly with organizations actively seeking procurement solutions and regional partners.
Curated Deal Room
One of the platform’s strongest differentiators is its structured Deal Room — a curated series of pre-scheduled 15-minute B2B meetings tailored to supplier capabilities and buyer procurement requirements.
Every meeting is strategically matched to ensure commercially meaningful conversations and partnership opportunities.
Supporting Local Content and Regional Sourcing
Botswana’s industrialization strategy increasingly prioritizes local content participation and SADC-based sourcing partnerships. Trade Up North supports this mandate by helping SMEs understand procurement requirements, compliance standards, and certification pathways.
Sessions involving the Botswana Bureau of Standards and Ministry of Trade will provide guidance on market entry requirements and supplier readiness.
Who Should Participate
Trade Up North 2026 is ideal for:
- Equipment manufacturers and distributors
- Industrial suppliers and agents
- Engineering and fabrication firms
- Construction materials producers
- Mining and manufacturing service providers
- Financial institutions and DFIs
- Infrastructure contractors and developers
The platform is particularly valuable for SMEs seeking visibility, procurement access, strategic partnerships, and regional expansion opportunities.
Participation Packages
Exhibitor + Deal Room Package – BWP 5,000
Includes:
- 3x3m exhibition booth
- Pre-matched 1-on-1 meetings
- Delegate passes
- Networking access
Deal Room Only Package – BWP 3,000
Includes:
- Curated 1-on-1 meetings
- Delegate passes
- Networking opportunities
Building the Future of Regional Trade
Trade Up North 2026 represents more than an exhibition — it is a strategic industrial engagement platform shaping the future of regional procurement, supplier inclusion, and industrial growth in Southern Africa.
Under the leadership of Vuyiswa Mojela, the platform continues to bridge the gap between SMEs and large-scale procurement opportunities, ensuring that local businesses are not merely spectators in Africa’s industrial transformation, but active participants and beneficiaries.
For corporates seeking stronger local content integration, and for SMEs ready to enter industrial supply chains, Trade Up North offers a direct pathway to opportunity, visibility, and growth.
Event Information
Trade Up North 2026
23 July 2026
Cresta Marang Gardens Hotel
Francistown, Botswana
Application Deadline
30 June 2026
Contact
Vuyiswa Mojela
Director & Lead Organizer
Mobile: +267 74181955
Email: vuyiswamojela@gmail.com
P.O. Box 53597
Gaborone, Botswana
Website: www.miningandenergy.co.bw