Moses D Pelaelo: ABSA Africa Financial Markets Index launched amid improving investment environment

Keynote address by Mr Moses D Pelaelo, Governor of the Bank of Botswana, at the Launch of the ABSA Africa Financial Markets Index, Gaborone, 9 November 2018.

The views expressed in this speech are those of the speaker and not the view of the BIS.

I am delighted to be able to join you this morning to mark the official launch in Botswana of the ABSA Africa Financial Markets Index. It is even more of a pleasure to give the keynote address in the wake of the news that, in the 2018 update of the Index, the rank of Botswana has moved from third to second among the 20 countries covered in the Index.

Director of Ceremonies, I would like to preface my remarks by observing that, not so long ago, the "Africa rising" narrative was somewhat eclipsed by what one respectable magazine described as the "hopeless continent of Africa", a label that was later retracted as inaccurate and inappropriate. And rightly so!