Africa-Press – Eswatini. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini says Eswatini is prepared to develop a new national development framework aimed at accelerating economic growth and unlocking the country’s full potential, as it works towards achieving first-world status.
Dlamini made these remarks on Saturday, February 7, 2026, upon his return from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he attended the World Government Summit. He represented His Majesty King Mswati III and the Kingdom of Eswatini at the high-level international gathering.
The Prime Minister said the summit placed strong emphasis on the need for developing countries to rethink their development strategies, as existing frameworks had failed to deliver meaningful progress.
“In 10 years’ time, Eswatini could be counted among developed nations if we successfully adopt and implement a new development framework,” Dlamini said.
He explained that leaders at the summit acknowledged that many developing countries continued to accumulate large amounts of debt without seeing tangible development outcomes. As a result, there was broad agreement that the traditional development model was no longer effective and needed to be replaced with innovative, results-driven approaches.
According to Dlamini, the proposed framework would focus on accelerating growth, improving service delivery, and ensuring that economic expansion translated into real improvements in the lives of citizens.
The summit also addressed a range of global issues, including tourism, climate change, artificial intelligence (AI), and the importance of peaceful coexistence among nations, particularly neighbouring countries.
Dlamini said participants agreed that respectful coexistence and regional cooperation were essential for peace, stability, and economic prosperity, as conflicts often hinder development and negatively affect ordinary citizens.
On climate change, the Prime Minister said countries were urged to take decisive action to reduce environmental degradation and adopt sustainable practices. He added that embracing artificial intelligence was another key priority discussed at the summit, as AI technologies were increasingly shaping governance, service delivery, and economic competitiveness worldwide.
“Countries that fail to embrace AI risk being left behind in the global economy,” Dlamini said, adding that Eswatini was committed to exploring ways to responsibly integrate these technologies into its development agenda.
Tourism was also highlighted as a major driver of economic growth. Dlamini said Eswatini used the platform to emphasize that tourism in the country had grown significantly over the years and was no longer a marginal sector.
“Tourism is no longer a fringe industry. It is a serious economic sector that can generate substantial income and create jobs if taken seriously,” he said.
He added that Eswatini had already begun prioritising tourism development, recognising its potential to attract investment, boost foreign exchange earnings, and support local communities.
Dlamini said government would continue engaging stakeholders to align national priorities with the proposed new development framework, with the aim of positioning Eswatini for sustained growth and long-term prosperity.
