Swazi Observer

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ESWATINI, SAUDI ARABIA STRENGTHEN 25-YEAR-OLD TIES

By SIBUSISO DLAMINI | 2024-12-13

ESWATINI and Saudi Arabia have solidified their 25-year-long diplomatic relationship with the signing of a general cooperation agreement.

This took place during a meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Pholile Shakantu and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

The high-level discussions, held in Riyadh yesterday, focused on deepening bilateral relations and exploring opportunities for collaboration across diverse sectors, including trade, investment, education, tourism and cultural exchange.

Minister Shakantu was accompanied by Member of Parliament Prince Lindani, in what she described as a productive and forward-looking engagement.

According to the minister, the agreement represents a significant step in the evolution of the relationship between the two nations, which began with the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 25, 1999.

“This agreement is a testament to the enduring friendship and shared aspirations between our two nations,” she said, expressing optimism about the strengthened partnership.

“It paves the way for greater cooperation that will bring tangible benefits to both our peoples, putting emphasis on both nations commitment to fostering closer collaboration and advancing mutual development goals,” she added.

Minister Shakantu emphasised that the country is fully committed to building on the foundations established by the agreement, viewing the opportunities ahead as vast and transformative.

She conveyed a clear vision of working closely with Saudi Arabia to achieve shared goals, with a strong focus on leveraging Saudi expertise and resources to drive progress in critical areas.

“The focus on education and cultural exchange also promises to deepen people-to-people connections between the two nations, fostering a broader understanding and appreciation of their respective heritages,” she said.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan on the other hand, re-affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to its partnership with Eswatini, emphasising the mutual benefits of closer cooperation.

He also expressed confidence in the potential for growth in areas such as tourism, where Saudi Arabia has been making significant investments to diversify its economy under its Vision 2030 programme.

In addition to the bilateral talks, Minister Shakantu held separate meetings with Saudi institutions to further bolster the country’s development objectives.

A meeting with representatives from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) explored opportunities to secure soft loans and grants for financing critical development projects.

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