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PREMIER INVITES JEWISH INVESTORS TO ESWATINI

By Government Correspondent | 2024-09-28

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has invited Jewish investors to come and invest in Eswatini.

The prime minister extended this invitation during a meeting with the American Jewish Committee in New York, United States of America, where he is currently representing His Majesty King Mswati III at the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

With the prime minister during this meeting were ministers Pholile Shakantu and Dr Thambo Gina.
Also present were Eswatini Ambassador to the United Nations Thami Dlamini and Ambassador to Washington DC Kennedy Groening as well as Senator Tony Sibandze and other senior government officials.

The prime minister promoted Eswatini as an ideal investment destination that has access to the 1.4 billion African market through trade blocs such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as other common international markets.

He explained that Eswatini was on an exponential economic growth agenda and listed the priority areas for investment as energy (both renewable and thermal), manufacturing, mining and mineral processing, technology and tourism, among others.

“We are looking at energy security. Currently, 100 per cent of the energy that we generate is renewable energy, but that amounts to only about 30 per cent of the energy that we use as a country, so that means we export about 70 per cent hence we want to generate energy to attain a baseload that will be adequate for us to industrialise,” the prime minister said.

He added: “We are looking for partners and investors so that we may exponentially grow our economy. We have identified areas of priority although all investments are appreciated. There is quite a number of challenges we are facing such as poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and GBV (gender-based violence). These social ills all emanate from low buying power due to unemployment.”

In return, the American Jewish Committee expressed interest in learning more about the Kingdom of Eswatini and bringing investors into the country. They further extended an invitation to Eswatini to visit Israel for a project interchange in the agri-tech and renewable energy sector.

Open bank in Eswatini, PM invites Taiwan’s Hua Nan Bank

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has extended an invitation to Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd, one of the largest commercial banks in Taiwan, to come and open a bank in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The PM made this invitation during a luncheon hosted by the Hua Nan Commercial Bank of New York, United States of America.

“We need an international bank in Eswatini and the earlier we open one, the better. It would really be exciting that the first truly international bank in Eswatini is opened by our friends from Taiwan, so that we experience the exponential economic growth together.” Hua Nan Bank General Manager Zosia Peng told the prime minister that this request would be considered by the bank.

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