Swazi Observer

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â€˜ESWATINI A GATEWAY TO OVER 60% MARKETS IN AFRICA, BEYONDâ€™

By Bahle Gama | 2019-11-20

Through trade agreements, Eswatini is a gateway to over 60 per cent of markets in Africa and beyond.

Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini disclosed this during the Taiwan Africa Business Association (TEBA) dinner at Royal Villas in Ezulwini on Monday evening. Members of the Taiwan Africa Business Association (TABA) were hosted for an inward mission seeking trade and investment opportunities in Africa, and Eswatini in particular.

He said that Eswatini was desirous of hosting more Taiwanese companies in other emerging sectors to widen the country’s business scope and economic activity.

“We have a competent, educated and committed workforce in this country. Government is ready to provide the necessary support to enable your companies to successfully invest in Eswatini.

Investing in Eswatini will enable your respective companies to tap into these markets at preferential rates and even duty free for some products. Through our trade agreements, Eswatini will become a gateway to over 60 per cent of markets in Africa and beyond,” he said.

He further stated that Taiwanese companies that invested in the country were predominantly occupying the textile space, taking advantage of overseas preferential and regional markets, and have created about 12 000 jobs.

“I have been informed that you had business to business engagements earlier on in the day. I am hopeful that your meetings with our local companies, who seek business growth and product diversification, were fruitful.

Let me assure you that Eswatini is a strategic and viable destination for investment as it provides access to various global and regional markets, including SACU, COMESA, SADC and EU, to name but a few,” he said.

The premier further noted that looking at the profiles of the companies represented in the inward mission, he was convinced that the businesses have come to the right place for investment.

“Your coming to Eswatini is timely since we recently launched the Africa e-Commerce trade platform that seeks to integrate Africa trade as part of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. This platform seeks to create a borderless environment for trade between African countries.

“May I encourage you all to take advantage of these opportunities and partner with our companies to meet the requirements of these lucrative markets,” he said.

He added that the government of Eswatini was determined to improve its status in global trade, and was spearheading strategic reforms to ensure that the kingdom offers a conducive business environment for global trade and investment.

“Our priority sectors identified in our Strategic Roadmap 2018-2023 are education and ICT, manufacturing and agro-processing, mining and energy, agriculture and tourism.

Through these strategic interventions, government is committed to eradicating bottlenecks for setting up a business in the country, and attain policy certainty to allow the private sector to drive economic growth and wealth creation while increasing trade and investments,” he said.

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