We live and work in an era where technology is not only transforming industries—it’s redefining how people live, earn, and engage with financial systems. With this in mind, we at the BIHL Group firmly believe that the future of financial services belongs not only to the most advanced—but to the most accessible.
As we mark 50 years of heritage this year, our focus is forward-looking: building a financial ecosystem where innovation and inclusion are inseparable drivers of sustainable progress.
🧭 Innovation That Matters
At the BIHL Group, innovation is not about keeping up with trends—it’s about solving real problems for real people.
We have embedded technology across our businesses—Botswana Life, Bifm, and BIC—to improve client experience, automate service delivery, and drive smarter investment decisions.
● Through Bifm Unit Trusts’ digital platform, we’ve seen a 36% increase in retail investor participation over the past two years—reflecting how innovation can democratise access to capital markets.
● Botswana Life’s AI-enabled chatbot now handles over 45% of routine client queries, freeing up teams to focus on high-impact engagements.
● Our introduction of digital onboarding and claims processing has reduced turnaround times by up to 60%, significantly improving customer satisfaction and retention.
These are not just process improvements—they are transformative enablers that allow us to serve more clients, more efficiently, and more meaningfully.
🤝 Inclusion That Goes Further
True innovation must be inclusive. Because financial progress happens when access is expanded and barriers are reduced.
We’ve designed products and services for the many—not the few. From low-premium insurance to entry-level investment options and rural engagement models, we are putting financial tools in the hands of those who need them most.
● In 2023, we reached over 150,000 Batswana through financial literacy campaigns, in partnership with schools, communities, and NGOs.
● Over 65% of new policyholders at Botswana Life are first-time insurance clients—many from underserved demographics.
● Through Bifm’s retail offering, over BWP 700 million in assets under management now belong to individual investors, not just institutions.
Inclusion is not a CSR checkbox for us. It is a strategic pillar—woven into how we design, deliver, and evaluate our services.
🔄 The Future Is Collaborative
We know that navigating the future requires more than vision—it requires collective intelligence. That’s why we continue to collaborate with regulators, stakeholders, government partners, and global institutions to co-create a financial system that reflects equity, resilience, and innovation.
Our strategic partnership with Sanlam, one of the largest non-banking financial services groups in Africa, gives us both global depth and continental context. It allows us to leverage world-class risk management, digital infrastructure, and capital strength—while applying local insight and nuance.
✨ What’s Next?
As we celebrate five decades of service, we are not resting on legacy—we are using it as a launchpad. The next chapter of BIHL’s journey is one where we:
● Expand regional impact through scalable platforms
● Champion women and youth participation in financial systems
● Strengthen our role as a long-term institutional investor in Botswana’s development
● Embrace sustainable finance and ESG-aligned growth
Because every Pula invested, protected, or planned through the BIHL Group must unlock opportunity—not only for individuals, but for generations.
As the African continent prepares to be home to over 2.5 billion people by 2050 (UN, 2022), the work we do today—through innovation and inclusion—will define how we rise to meet that future.
Because innovation without inclusion is incomplete.
And inclusion without innovation is unsustainable.
At the BIHL Group, we remain committed to both.
By Catherine Lesetedi, The BIHL Group CEO