STATEMENT BY THE RT HON PRIME MINISTER,

DR B.SIBUSISO DLAMINI

AT THE OFFICIAL CLOSING OF THE SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR 2015

AT MAVUSO INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE, MANZINI

 

MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2015

 

Honourable Ministers

Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps;

Regional Administrator

Mayor of Manzini;

Exhibitors and Sponsors of the Swaziland International Trade Fair

Management Committee of the Swaziland International Trade Fair

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my honour, and indeed a great pleasure, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, to visit the 2015 Swaziland International Trade Fair and perform the official closing.

What a magnificent turn-out we have had at this year’s Trade Fair, and from all ages and every walk of life. I think it is fair to say that the numbers have gone off the chart! A valuable measure introduced this year was to make the exhibition side of the Fair to be free of an admission charge. That has to be an excellent idea because it is essential that our International Trade Fair is open and accessible for everyone.

The needs and nature of individual and corporate interest vary so widely. Our students have so much to learn from the wide range of goods and services. They have been here in great numbers, showing a keen interest in what is on display. The detailed presentations of what we grow, and the goods that we make, are not only informative but they stimulate and motivate our young people. In how many cases among our students, I wonder, will the seeds have been sown, this past week, that guide them towards a future career in a particular field?

And when I say “field” let me also take its literal meaning and say how impressive have been the demonstrations of the fruits and vegetables that are being grown and can yet be introduced in our country. Agriculture continues to be the backbone of our economy. We do very seriously want our young people to look energetically at how they can embark on self-employed careers in agriculture and agri-business. It is clear from the displays that an impressive array of technical and research support will be available to them in such endeavours.

Yet again we have seen what beautiful handcraft products are being made in the Kingdom. Work was done recently on developing mechanisms to take our handcraft products to bigger markets, especially outside the country, in order to give rise to higher incomes and an increase in the number of sustainable livelihoods in the sector. I look forward to seeing all stakeholders moving forward in this initiative in the near future.

Our Fair once again reveals a healthy mix of domestic and foreign exhibitors. Let me first of all thank the Republic of China (Taiwan) for making such a big commitment in taking an entire pavilion. We welcome the new exhibitors from Taiwan – Jingu with Smartphone assembly, Speedtech with LED component manufacturing and Linne International with castor oil production.

We are very grateful too, for the continued participation in the Trade Fair by the Taiwan Embassy and the Indonesian Consulate, and the welcome addition this year of the Ghana Consulate. We are also delighted to see exhibitors from Tanzania, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa. In providing our people with details of what they can source in terms of goods and services from outside the country we are seeing evidence of partnership with our neighbouring countries. Yes, we do compete in the marketplace with our respective goods and services but that does not prevent us from enjoying the complementarity of what we can offer each other.

The subject of continually increasing the volume of trade that we conduct, both domestically and outside the country, is constantly in our thoughts. So we welcome all who have come to buy, or study, what we sell. In addition, the International Trade fair enables us to provide something of a photograph to the potential investor – a snapshot in the form of a quite substantial display of what our public and private sectors have to offer.

I do hope that the exhibition stands of Government Ministries and other public sector agencies have sent out the clear signal of our determination to provide a fast, efficient and comprehensive service to all, and create a truly business friendly environment. The nature and quality of Government services are of considerable interest to the investor.

Visitors from outside Swaziland will have had the opportunity to interact with existing members of our private sector. We shall now be very happy if they go back to their respective countries well informed and motivated to disseminate to their fellow countrymen all that they have seen here.

And every indication so far is that the exceptionally large number of visitors have left very satisfied with what they have seen. For this we have to thank the organisers, in particular the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority. Putting on a function of this size involves a great deal of work. And let me, at the same time, say how much we have appreciated the financial and other contributions made by our sponsors.

Then I must express our deepest gratitude to all the exhibitors as well as to those presenting and participating in the numerous seminars and discussion sessions. Each of those contributors has provided a crucially important component to creating a successful trade fair.

The quality of the stands has again been excellent. The amount of information made available to the visitors at every stand has been so beautifully presented and so informative that trying to cover every exhibit in one day would have been barely enough to do justice to what was on display. The exhibitors have spared no effort and have displayed their goods and services with pride and proficiency. It takes a great deal of effort to build a stand, and staff it for a week, always alert and helpful to every visitor. I do not envy the judges in their task of selecting the winning stand in this year’s competition. In a week of breaking records let me add that the number of exhibitors increased by 16% over last year, to make a total of 223.

It is a wonderful experience to see this magnificent Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre packed with exhibitors and visitors to the extent that a huge marquee has had to be added to the facilities to accommodate all exhibitors. And, I might add, it has been fully occupied. The facilities on the exhibition side are good but the separation of activities this year has revealed that the facilities specifically for the entertainment side will need to be improved in order to ensure that health and safety standards are not compromised.

As the exhibitors dismantle their stands and leave for their respective destinations we can all reflect on having another successful event with much good work done by all. It is now my honour on behalf of His Majesty’s Government to declare the 2015 Swaziland International Trade Fair officially closed.

Thank you.