Lesotho takes its investment pitch to Basotho in London with a first Diaspora Investment Forum
An investment fund, one desk for Basotho abroad and a forum every year: what Lesotho's UK diaspora asked for, as the kingdom marks 60 years of independence.
Lesotho's High Commission in London has held its first Diaspora Investment Forum, bringing Basotho who live in Britain together with officials from home to work out how their money and skills can help build the kingdom. On 22 October 2026 the government also opened a Lesotho Trade and Investment Forum in the capital with the Westminster Africa Business Association, aimed at British investors.
Five ideas from the diaspora
Participants put five proposals on the table. None is policy yet: they are what Basotho abroad asked for, and the government now has to weigh them.
- A Diaspora Investment Fund, one structured channel for Basotho abroad to back projects at home.
- A Diaspora Desk, a single point of contact for information and dealings with government.
- Skills transfer through training, mentoring and short working stints in Lesotho.
- A one-stop service for the paperwork and questions that concern people living abroad.
- Formal recognition of the diaspora as a contributor to the economy whose part can be measured.
Lejone Mpotjoane attended on behalf of Limpho Tau, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He heard the concerns raised and said the government was committed to acting on them. A homecoming event and a new migration model were also floated, with details still to come, and those in the room asked for the forum to return every year.
Photo: OER Africa — CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What Lesotho has to offer
Three of the kingdom's development bodies came with opportunities to show: the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), which brings in investors; the Basotho Enterprises Development Corporation (BEDCO), which supports local businesses; and the Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion project (CAFI).
The groundwork was laid earlier in the year. At a diaspora evening the High Commission held to mark King Letsie III's 63rd birthday, LNDC, the Central Bank of Lesotho and CAFI joined online to talk about investment openings, diaspora bonds and support for investors from abroad. Members discussed collective savings, investment clubs, soft loans and business partnerships, and anyone keen to join a savings group or club was invited to get in touch with the High Commission.
Photo: U.S. Embassy Maseru — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The sums involved are not small. A workshop in Maseru in August with the UN Economic Commission for Africa heard that remittances make up about 21% of Lesotho's GDP, and that savings Basotho hold abroad could add a pool worth roughly another 10.5% of GDP. It named agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy and infrastructure as the places to put that money to work.
How the pitch has grown
- October 2025More than 180 diaspora professionals and partners join a Diaspora Trade and Investment Forum run by the Foreign Ministry in Midrand, South Africa.
- 2026A diaspora evening at the London High Commission, for the King's 63rd birthday, introduces savings groups and investment clubs.
- August 2026A Maseru workshop with the UN Economic Commission for Africa reviews a plan for turning remittances into investment.
- 4 October 2026Lesotho celebrates 60 years of independence.
- October 2026The High Commission holds its first Diaspora Investment Forum in London.
- 22 October 2026The Lesotho Trade and Investment Forum opens in London with the Westminster Africa Business Association.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lesotho Diaspora Investment Forum?
A gathering at Lesotho's High Commission in London, first held in October 2026, where Basotho living in the UK met government representatives to discuss investing in Lesotho and sharing skills with it.
What did Basotho in the UK propose?
A Diaspora Investment Fund, a Diaspora Desk as one point of contact, skills-transfer programmes, a one-stop service for diaspora matters and formal recognition of the diaspora's contribution. They are proposals, not yet policy.
How can Basotho in the UK get involved?
The High Commission has invited Basotho in the UK who want to join a diaspora savings group or investment club to contact it directly. Attendees have also asked for the forum to become an annual event.
How much do remittances add to Lesotho's economy?
About 21% of GDP, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, which estimates that savings Basotho hold abroad could add roughly another 10.5% of GDP.
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