Botswana has unveiled a citizenship-by-investment program aimed at attracting foreign capital and reducing the country’s reliance on diamond revenues. The initiative was announced on September 26, 2025, by President Duma Boko, who emphasized that the program is central to the government’s plan to broaden economic opportunities, as reported by Reuters.
The scheme will offer citizenship in exchange for investment, with details on the minimum financial threshold still to be finalized. Proceeds will be directed into priority sectors such as housing, tourism, renewable energy, mining, and financial services, marking a shift toward diversification after decades of dependence on diamond exports.
The announcement comes as Botswana faces economic pressure from falling global demand for diamonds. The country’s GDP contracted by about 3% in 2024 and is expected to shrink again in 2025, highlighting the vulnerability of an economy where diamonds account for roughly 80% of export earnings and a third of government revenue.
“This program will enable us to continue to secure the long-term financial future of Botswana,” President Boko said in a statement, stressing the urgency of building resilience against external shocks and commodity price swings.
To implement the initiative, Botswana has signed a memorandum of understanding with Arton Capital, a global investment migration consultancy. The program complements the government’s broader diversification strategy, which also includes the recent creation of a sovereign wealth fund to promote investment and job creation beyond the diamond sector.
