STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER

H.E. AMBROSE MANDVULO DLAMINI

AT THE TAIWAN AFRICA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION DINNER 

ROYAL VILLAS, EZULWINI

MONDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2019

Honourable Ministers

Your Excellency the Ambassador of Taiwan in the Kingdom of Eswatini

President of the Taiwan Africa Business Association and your Delegation

Senior Government officials

EIPA CEO, management and staff

Captains of Industry

Representatives of the Eswatini Business sector

Members of the media

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening

May I, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, extend a warm welcome to all our distinguished guests and visitors to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

We are excited to host the members of the Taiwan Africa Business Association (TABA) for this inward mission seeking trade and investment opportunities in Africa, and Eswatini in particular.

Let me from the onset echo the objectives inscribed in the Economic Cooperation Agreement signed between the Government of The Republic of China, Taiwan and The Government of The Kingdom of Eswatini, which underlines that both countries will seek to explore new areas of economic cooperation, trade and investment opportunities.

My visit to Taiwan last month sought to strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries and I believe this delegation is here to drive the same objectives. I am glad to note that the president of the Taiwan Africa Business Association is a man of his words as he assured me while I was in Taiwan that he will be leading a business delegation to explore investment and trade opportunities in Eswatini.

Your presence in the Kingdom, as the Business community from Taiwan, is much welcome and will help you scan our exciting trade and investment opportunities with the conviction that it will translate to vibrant economic activities that will benefit both of our private sectors and, in extension, our respective countries’ economies.

I have been informed that you had Business to Business engagements earlier on in the day. I am hopeful that your meetings with our local companies, who seek business growth and product diversification, were fruitful. Let me assure you that Eswatini is a strategic and viable destination for investment as it provides access to various global and regional markets, including SACU, COMESA, SADC, EU to name but a few.

Investing in Eswatini will enable your respective companies to trade into these markets at preferential rates and even duty free for some products. Through our trade agreements, Eswatini becomes a gateway to over 60% of markets in Africa and beyond.

Looking at the profiles of the companies represented in this in-ward mission, I am convinced that your businesses have come to the right place for investment. Your coming to Eswatini is timely since we recently launched the Africa e-commerce trade platform that seeks to integrate Africa trade as part of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. This platform seeks to create a borderless environment for trade between African countries. May I encourage you all to take advantage of these opportunities and partner with our companies to meet the requirements of these lucrative markets.

The Government of Eswatini is determined to improve our status in global trade, and we are spearheading strategic reforms to ensure that our Kingdom presents a conducive business environment for global trade and investment.  Our priority sectors identified in our Strategic Roadmap 2018-2023 are Education & ICT, Manufacturing & Agro-processing, Mining and Energy, Agriculture and Tourism.

Through these strategic interventions, Government is committed to eradicating bottle necks for setting up a business in the country, and attain policy certainty to allow the private sector to drive economic growth and wealth creation while increasing trade and investments.

There have been numerous business delegations from Taiwan to Eswatini since the beginning of the year and equally, Eswatini delegations to Taiwan to pursue reciprocal business interests. May I make a call for action and results emanating from these business engagements and visits. Currently Taiwanese companies invested in the country are predominantly occupying the textile space, taking advantage of overseas preferential and regional markets, and have created about 12 000 jobs.

We are desirous of hosting more Taiwanese companies in other emerging sectors to widen our business scope and stimulate economic activity. We have a competent, educated and committed workforce in this country. Government is ready to provide the necessary support to enable your companies to successfully invest in Eswatini.

In conclusion, may I pass my gratitude to the Government of Taiwan, in particular TAITRA and the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Cooperation, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan for their continued support for Trade and Investment promotion in Eswatini. Your Excellency Ambassador Liang please do pass my gratitude to the Government and people of Taiwan.

May I also acknowledge the role played by TABA Chairman Mr. Jeff Sun and all other delegates in ensuring that Eswatini remains the preferred destination for Taiwanese companies looking for trade and investment opportunities in Africa.

Eswatini is open for business.

Thank you.

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