Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

GOVT TO LAUNCH STATE BUSINESS RELATIONS FORUM

By Bahle Gama | 2020-02-06

Government, in partnership with the private sector, will launch Eswatini’s State Business Relations (SBR) Forum on February 20.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said during a press briefing held at the ministry yesterday that the SBR Forum would provide space for interaction between the public and private sectors and the exchange of information towards promoting private sector development and ease of doing business in the kingdom.

“Global experience has shown that open, regular, structured, timely and focused interaction with the state helps the private sector to reduce policy uncertainties.

It is also known that companies are more willing to undertake investment and production decisions, on the basis of a better understanding of government policies and the predictability of rules and regulations,” he said.

He said it was worth noting that central to the economic recovery objectives of government’s strategic roadmap was the creation of conditions that would set the country’s economy on a path of positive growth rates with the private sector playing a leading role.

The minister said in that regard, the private sector was encouraged to work with government in the implementation of the roadmap.

Khumalo added that the SBR Forum would create a space which the private sector was requested to make use of, in providing constructive feedback in relation to government’s efforts and initiatives towards reviving the economy.

“Initiatives such as the SBR Forum will, therefore, go a long way towards ensuring that all activities and programmes aimed at enhancing small and medium enterprise (SME) growth are not only effectively implemented by government but are collectively developed with the private sector.

“We are banking on the support of the private sector towards the success of the SBR Forum and the ultimate improved conditions for business growth in the kingdom,” he said.

share story