Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation AMB Joel Nhleko has shed light on the significance of the Kingdom of Eswatini having Bilateral Relations with Mongolia.

·        In this regard, Nhleko pointed out that Mongolia has the potential to help eSwatini  gain more trade opportunities in the international community.

·        Having established bilateral relations with Mongolia, Nhleko explained that eSwatini stands to benefit as Mongolia played host to the International Think Tank(ITT) for Land Locked Developing Countries(LLDC’s). The aim of the ITT is to bolster the capacity of the LLDC’s to undertake research , analysis and advocacy to improve the ability of LLDC,s to build capacity with a view to benefit from global trade and investment space.

·        The ultimate view of this organisation is to raise human development and reduce poverty.

·        Mongolia as facillitators and generators of this critical relevant and cross-cutting data have, over the years , created expertise on how to negotiate better and on more favourable terms for land locked countries.

·        PS explains that through collective representation on Multilateral fora , Mongolia’s evidence based approach to discussions and resolutions could favour eSwatini to make stronger arguments  for better concessions and gain more assistance from the International Community.

·        ESwatini and Mongolia share a unique but significant charachteristics as both are landlocked developing countries, whose access to trade and development are limited by their geographic  disposition and the relations and policies of their neighbours.

·        The dilpomatic relations were not predicated on material benefits one country could benefit from the other but on the notion of maintaining State to State relations which provides an essential framework of the conduct of foreign relations.

·        The framework of the conduct of foreign relations also acknowledges the sovereign status of a country.

·        The relations are aimed at affording an opportunity to States to be firmly recognized, Protected and be in solidarity in the multilateral space.