YOUR MAJESTY INDLOVUKAZI,
EMAKHOSIKATI,
YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES,
PRIME MINISTER;
COUNCILLORS,
CHIEFS,
CHIEF JUSTICE;
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER,
CABINET MINISTERS;
SADC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS;
PRESIDING OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT,
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MANZINI REGION;
SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS OF THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR;
DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
SIYANIVUSELA NONKHE BEKUNENE LAPHA EMAVUSO TRADE AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
INTRODUCTION
IT IS INDEED A GREAT HONOUR FOR ME TO BE AT THE MAVUSO TRADE EXHIBITION AND SPORTS CENTRE FOR THE 48TH EDITION OF THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR.
WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS ANNUAL EVENT WHICH THE WHOLE NATION LOOKS FORWARD TO BECAUSE OF ITS EXCITING ACTIVITIES.
BOTH YOUNG AND OLD ARE CATERED FOR DURING THIS EVENT. IT IS ONE OCCASION THAT BRINGS THE NATION TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BOTH BIG AND SMALL.
WE ALSO WELCOME ALL THE EXHIBITORS PARTICIPATING THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT COME FROM OUTSIDE OUR BORDERS. WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE EXHIBITORS FROM BEYOND THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
THE NATION WILL KNOW THAT TWO DAYS AGO THE IMBALI REGIMENT WAS COMMISSIONED TO CUT REED, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF OUR ANNUAL REED DANCE CEREMONY. THE HUGE NUMBERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGING AND THIS CLEARLY INDICATES THAT OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE IS IN SAFE HANDS.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES ON-GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY DURING THIS TIME AND WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE GOOD NEWS THAT EMASWATI ARE WELCOMING OUR SADC DELEGATIONS WITH WARM HANDS.
DURING THE LAUNCH AND PREPARATIONS OF THIS SUMMIT WE APPEALED TO THE ENTIRE NATION TO MAKE THEIR STAY A MEMORABLE ONE SO THAT WHEN THEY GO BACK HOME THEY TAKE FOND MEMORIES OF OUR KINGDOM.
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH YOUR GOOD WORK BECAUSE THIS WEEKEND WE ARE EXPECTING SADC HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT TO ARRIVE. WE WANT THEM TO ENJOY AND EXPERIENCE OUR CULTURE PRIOR TO THE SUMMIT.
TRADE FAIR THEME
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S TRADE FAIR IS “DEVELOPMENT UNUSUAL: SITF PAVES WAY FOR SADC INDUSTRIALISATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR REGIONAL PROSPERITY”.
THIS THEME IS APPROPRIATE BECAUSE AS A REGION WE HAVE SET OURSELVES SEVERAL TARGETS TO ACHIEVE IN ORDER TO MAKE THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE BETTER.
THE THEME ALSO TIES IN WELL WITH OUR CONTINENTAL VISION 2063 WHICH ALSO TALKS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CONTINENT.
TO THIS END, THE THEME WAS CONCEIVED IN LINE WITH SADC LEADERS’ RESOLUTION TO PRIORITISE INDUSTRIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT TO TRANSFORM THE REGION FROM PRIMARY COMMODITY PRODUCTION TO HIGH VALUE ADDITION THAT WOULD ENSURE GROWTH OF THE SADC INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT.
TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURAL SHOW
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT FROM A MERE AGRICULTURAL SHOW LAUNCHED AT THE NATION’S INDEPENDENCE, THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR HAS CONTINUED TO PLAY AN INCREASING ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF BUSINESS AND TRADE IN THE COUNTRY.
OUR ECONOMY, THOUGH SMALL IN SIZE, HAS STRONG TRADE LINKAGES WITH THE WORLD THROUGH ITS REGIONAL AND MULTILATERAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS. THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS REMAIN THE ANCHOR OF OUR TRADE RELATIONS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
OVER THE YEARS THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR HAS INCREASINGLY RECORDED HIGH NUMBERS OF EXHIBITORS WITH 253 PARTICIPATING THIS YEAR, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 18 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR.
IT IS PLEASING TO NOTE THAT OUR EXHIBITION COVERS ALL SECTORS SUCH AS MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURE, RETAIL, CONSTRUCTION, HEAVY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, ICT, SERVICES, SMES, HANDCRAFT AND TOURISM. THE STANDARD OF PRESENTATION IN THE EXHIBITION STANDS IS REMARKABLY IMPROVING AND HAS REACHED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
THIS DEMONSTRATES THE LEVEL OF DETERMINATION AND COMMITMENT BY THE NATION TOWARDS THE COMMON VISION OF ACHIEVING THE FIRST WORLD STATUS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT FROM THIS YEAR THE SITF WILL INDEED PAVE WAY TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVE
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVE TO INTEGRATE THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN THE MAINSTREAM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES TO BE THE MAIN THRUST OF THE TRADE FAIR.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SPECIAL PAVILION FOR THE INFORMAL SECTOR HANDCRAFT PRODUCERS, A CONSUMER SECTION HAS BEEN CREATED FOR TRADERS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS AND HANDCRAFT WARES.
IT IS ALSO PLEASING TO OBSERVE THAT THE SUPPLY OF REFRESHMENTS SOLD DURING THE EVENT IS DOMINATED BY THE SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES WHOM WE ENCOURAGE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MARKET THEMSELVES.
WE HOPE THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR WILL BE PLEASED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED TO PLAY A ROLE DURING THE FAIR. MANAGEMENT OF THE FAIR HAS INFORMED US THAT IT HAS INCREASED THE LOCAL CONTENT AS MORE LOCAL ARTISTS WILL FEATURE THIS YEAR.
FURTHERMORE, THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN EXHIBITORS HAS INCREASED TO 15 WITH 10 EXHIBITORS FROM SADC. WE RECOGNIZE THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN, INDONESIA AND GHANA THROUGH EMBASSIES AND HIGH COMMISSIONS RESIDENT IN THE KINGDOM.
PROGRAMME FOR THE YOUTH
SINCE INCEPTION THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FARE HAS COMBINED ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHILDREN THROUGH GAMES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED DURING THE EVENT.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH TO REFRESH DURING VACATION IN READINESS FOR THE FINAL TERM OF THE SCHOOL CALENDAR.
PARENTS SHOULD TAKE TIME FROM THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE AND BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO THE FAIR AS THEY ARE FULLY CATERED FOR. THIS WILL ALSO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT LOCALLY PRODUCED GOODS.
SOME OF THEM MIGHT ALSO END UP VENTURING INTO BUSINESS ONCE THEY NOTE THAT THE FAIR IS A PLACE TO ENTERTAIN AND ALSO TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
APPLAUD SUPPORT FROM SPONSORS
WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THE PREPARATION OF THIS EVENT INCLUDING THE FULL PROGRAMME OF THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR FOR 2016.
WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SPONSORS WHO HAVE TIRELESSLY CONTRIBUTED BOTH IN CASH AND IN KIND TOWARDS THE PROGRAMMES OF THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR.
CONCLUSION
PEACE IS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND A KEY DRIVER FOR FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. WE NEED TO DEDICATE ALL OUR EFFORTS TOWARDS NATION BUILDING AND WORKING HARD TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR NATION.
NO ONE WILL DO THIS FOR US AND OUR NATIONAL VISION WILL NOT BE ATTAINABLE IF EACH AND EVERY LISWATI DOES NOT HOLD HANDS AND WALK THE JOURNEY TO OUR FUTURE TOGETHER.
WE URGE THE NATION TO CONTINUE UPHOLDING THE PEACE AND THE RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER AS WE OBSERVE AND CELEBRATE OTHER NATIONAL EVENTS DURING THIS PERIOD.
WE ALSO WISH TO ENCOURAGE ALL OUR VISITORS TO TAKE TIME FROM THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE TO VISIT OUR TRADE FAIR AND LUDZIDZINI ROYAL RESIDENCE TO WITNESS OUR COLOURFUL REED DANCE.
DECLARATION
IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO DECLARE THAT THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2016 IS OFFICIALLY OPENED.
THANK YOU – MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS US ALL.