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ESEPARC, CENTRAL BANK LAUNCH 2ND ECONOMIC CONFERENCE

By Hlengiwe Ndlovu | 2019-02-18

RESEARCHERS prepare your topics, the country’s second economic conference has been officially launched.

The first-ever economic conference was held in 2017 and raised the bar as Eswatini’s premier platform for the pursuit of the economic development dialogue.

The second national economic conference was launched last Thursday by Central Bank of Eswatini Governor Majozi Sithole, who was in the company of Assistant Governor Mfan’fikile Dlamini, General Manager Economic Policy, Research and Statistics Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Dr Patrick Ndzinisa, who is the Manager Policy Research and Macro-economic Analysis as well as Senior Economist Bongani Dlamini. The Central Bank team was joined by ESEPARC Director Dr Thula Sizwe Dlamini, ESEPARC is the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre.

Themed ‘knowledge, innovation and development in Eswatini: current and future prospects; the second economic conference will be held from 23rd to October 25th.

The country’s economic conferences are a partnership between ESEPARC, the Central Bank and UNESWA. Speaking during the launch, the CBE governor said the conference comes at a time when technological advancements, especially the fourth industrial revolution, present an unprecedented challenge for economies to move with the times.

Said the governor: “As it is well known, the global economy has entered the fourth industrial revolution, in which technology is positioned to disrupt the way we live, produce goods and services, and relate to one another as individuals, countries and global economies. To thrive in the fourth industrial revolution, countries must not only embrace science, technology and innovation but also other aspects of the knowledge economy.”

The governor was adamant that the extent to which a country masters knowledge and innovation in the fourth industrial revolution will determine its pace of social development and economic growth. “Knowledge and innovation present many avenues for unlocking opportunities for younger generations for many years to come. There is little doubt that knowledge and innovation will be key ingredients in preparing Eswatini for the economy of the future,” he said. In the meantime, ESEPARC’S Dr. Thula Sizwe invited researchers to prepare their topics related to this year’s theme

The second economic conference’s key thematic areas are:

n Knowledge generation and management for structural transformation

n The role of new technologies in strengthening productive capacities

n Building a competitive industrial base

n Human capital development and building capacities for the new economy in Eswatini

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