STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER
DR B.S.S.DLAMINI
DURING THE VISIT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF COMESA
AT THE CABINET OFFICES, MBABANE
FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2013
Secretary-General
Honourable Minister
I am very pleased to add my own words of welcome to those that I am sure have been extended to you during this, your visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland. In the first instance may I extend our condolences to you for the recent loss of your brother.
Our membership of COMESA is one that is very close to our hearts and minds. In this early part of the 21st century, it remains clear that the multi-nation economic and trading associations have much that is advantageous to member countries.
Access to market, both within our own borders, and into external destinations for our products have been ongoing challenges for some time. The availability of the COMESA market, with many member countries of an African continent in which incomes are rising at a rapid rate, is an attractive facility for Swaziland.
COMESA has come a long way since its metamorphosis from the Preferential Trade Area 18 years ago. Today, COMESA is one of the eight regional economic communities (RECs) considered to be building blocks of the future African Economic Community (AEC), as defined in the Abuja Treaty.
Today, I have had the honour to brief you on one or two important issues.
This year, as you will be aware, Swaziland is holding national elections. In the past, we have issued invitations to organizations such as COMESA to act as independent observers. Our Elections and Boundaries Commission will be dealing with this issue over the coming weeks.
Construction of our new international airport at Sikhuphe in central Swaziland has been completed and will be officially opened in the next few months. We are continuing to market this exciting new facility both regionally and internationally.
COMESA will be inviting bids from member countries for hosting the Headquarters and Secretariat of the Tripartite Free Trade Area. Swaziland will be giving careful consideration to whether it will be throwing our hat in the ring, so to speak. I think our position as being the only member of both SACU and COMESA would put us in a good position. And having the regional office might well provide good support for our new international airport.
Secretary-General,
Swaziland would appreciate COMESA providing technical assistance that would help Swaziland to address issues of climate change that have a strong bearing on food security.
During our meeting I had the opportunity to ask you to update me on a number of matters.
We are very much interested to hear the outcome of your engagement with other COMESA member states on how Swaziland’s market access can be safeguarded in the outcome of the Tripartite negotiations.
Similarly it would be helpful to know about the commitment to give technical support to our Swaziland Revenue Authority on the migration from ASYCUDA Plus Plus to ASYCUDA World. There is also the COMESA commitment to the SOMI Project that aims to encourage our local farmers to grow sunflower for cooking oil production.
Also there is the matter of the impasse between Palfridge and the Zimbabwe Government on the export of fridges and freezers to that country.
And finally, Secretary-General, you may wish to brief the Honourable Minister about the objectives of the COMESA/Japan Summit in Japan at the end of May.
I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and wish you a most pleasant and productive stay in our country.
Thank you.