*F&G launches Ethyl Maltol in Francistown
F&G Botswana, a subsidiary of the Chinese industrial leading player, HUABAO Flavours & Fragrances based at Dumela Industrial-Francistown have launched their latest product Ethyl Maltol, a versatile organic compound that is expected to revolutionise the food, beverage, tobacco, and chemical industries.
Described by the F&G Director Steven Zhu as a small ingredient that performs a very big job, Ethyl Maltol is a white crystalline powder used widely as a flavor and fragrance enhancer, characterized by a potent, sweet, caramel-like, and fruity odor. It acts as a sweetening agent and aroma enhancer, commonly used in food, cosmetics, and tobacco industries. It is a globally recognized GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) food-grade flavor enhancer.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, Zhu said when their parent company in China looked at Africa 19 years ago, they saw potential, and in Botswana they saw a compound, commonly used in food, cosmetics, and tobacco industries.
“That is why we chose to build here, in Francistown. We did not choose this city by accident. We chose it because of its industrial heritage, its proximity to the Zimbabwe and Zambia borders, and its role as a logistical gateway into the wider SADC market. We are proud to be part of the Dumela Industrial Area, and we are proud to call Francistown our home,” Zhu said.
Zhu said the new product will bolster the company and the country’s global competitiveness, as currently Africa accounts for only about 11% of the global market, significantly lagging behind Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
He said theri mission is to bring world-class flavour science to the African food industry and to do so locally, affordably, and with pride.
“It means that a bakery in Gaborone, a sausage producer in Lusaka, a chicken processor in Harare, or a beverage manufacturer in Luanda no longer needs to import expensive, delicate flavour ingredients from halfway across the world,” he said.
Zhu said they believe that for African food manufacturers to truly compete on their own shelves and on export shelves they need access to the same quality of ingredients that manufacturers in Europe, Asia, and North America already take for granted.
“Our mission is to close that gap, and localise what has, for too long, been imported,” the F&G Director said.
Giving a keynote address at the launch Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima said the product by F&G Botswana, in collaboration with Huabao and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, demonstrates how global partnerships, local investment, and innovation can converge to create value-added manufacturing right here in Botswana.
“This is the future of Botswana’s economy where we do not simply export raw materials, but develop, refine, and export finished, competitive products to regional and international markets,” Ntsima said.
The Minister said by embracing technology, fostering entrepreneurship, and investing in human capital, they are laying the foundation for industries that will define Botswana’s future.
“By investing in innovation-driven industries, value-added manufacturing, and knowledge-based services, Botswana can move up the value chain and reduce vulnerability to commodity cycles,” Ntsima said.
He further said the transition also opens doors for green technologies, digital transformation, and regional trade integration, positioning Botswana as a leader in sustainable, high-value sectors.
“With the right policies and partnerships, the country can transform from a resource-based economy into a regional hub for specialised production and services,” he said.
