Africa-Press – Eswatini. More than 18 000 jobs were created by foreign direct investments (FDI) and domestic investments between 2018 and 2023.
This was revealed by the Eswatini Investments Promotion Authority (EIPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sibani Mngometulu during the recent Cabinet retreat. Mngometulu highlighted a number of achievements made by EIPA in the past few years, which included technical assistance obtained to ensure greater effectiveness in investment promotion regarding the EIPA strategy (2020 – 2024) for;
* SDG mainstreaming for Investment promotion;
* Investment Facilitation and Retention and trade promotion;
* e-commerce;
* Artificial intelligence and ChatGPT;
* Data analytics;
* Global market potential;
* Consumer trends in international markets;
* Export readiness for SMEs;
* AGOA market access for Eswatini businesses.
The CEO added that in 2023, over 15 traders in the food and beverages and creative sectors were sent to Taiwan to showcase their goods, as well as market themselves to Taiwanese buyers. He said EIPA and other local companies also participated in the 2023 Zambia and Zimbabwe International Trade Fairs, winning second prize in the International Exhibitor segment. He said in 2022, they participated in the Dubai Expo 2020, where they transported goods and showcased them to the international market, securing sales for products for local businesses.
Launch
The CEO further presented that EIPA was involved in the development of the National Action Programme on Investment (NAPI) for Eswatini. He said EIPA was a key stakeholder in the launch of the Eswatini SDG Investor Map. Mngometulu mentioned that more than 260 people were trained on export readiness for US, European and Asian Markets. He also highlighted that at least new factory shells were constructed, one more purchased and renovations carried out in various other shells. The construction of factory shells in rural areas within Eswatini has benefitted surrounding communities, creating jobs and stimulating economic activity; an outcome of government’s decentralisation model.
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