Africa-Press – Eswatini. A total of 117 students successfully graduated at the National Handcraft and Training Centre (NHTC) yesterday.
The event was graced by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo and the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Jeremy Liang.
The minister said skills that the graduates had obtained were one of the many initiatives by government for them to contribute to the economic development of the country through job creation than seeking employment opportunities.
“Through the extension services from the handcraft department, students will be assisted in formulating associations and cooperatives to pool their resources together to finance their business ideas,” he said.
He mentioned that the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including the informal sector, had proven to be the back-bone of every country’s economy and for the graduates they would be joining others who were already on the ground hustling for their livelihoods.
“Particularly in times like these the country needs more entrepreneurs than before. Just this morning, prior to this event, I had the honour to launch the Global Youth Project on Cooperatives, whose mandate is to roll-out various projects countrywide to enable the youth to understand the fundamentals of cooperatives,” he said.
Khumalo encouraged the graduates to visit SEDCO for any business training, including assistance in developing business plans, to not only access loans but to have a guide on the direction of their business for growth.
“As you are expected to start your own businesses you need to be knowledgeable on government support towards business start-ups,” said Khumalo.
He added that as a ministry responsible for the commerce portfolio, they had put in place financial products to assist MSMEs for start-ups and these funds included guarantee schemes which could assist for collateral purposes as well as informal trader’s fund.
The minister said they were proud to announce that most of the graduates were absorbed within the civil service, local major corporations such as Royal Eswatini Sugar, Corporation, Montigny, Eswatini Water Services Corporation and Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation while others were running their own businesses and others, still, were able to enroll to higher institutions of learning to further their studies.
The minister concluded by commending the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of India for the continued support given to the country’s handcraft producers through the provision of capacity building and access to markets. Taiwan Embassy Minister Councilor Oliver Han, who was representing the Taiwan Ambassador Jeremy Liang encouraged the graduates to further study and learn more occupational skills as graduation was a momentous occasion to be remembered.
“A milestone has been achieved. Students have become young men or women and, overnight, have become responsible for their future. Graduation doesn’t mean the end of learning, but a new threshold to make you better, to experience new things, to forge new relationships, and to fulfill your dreams. Education is the best investment for you and the learning of your lifetime,” he said.
He further encouraged them to never give up and always be positive. “No matter what difficulties you encounter at any time, in any stage, always remember, failure is never fatal, and success is never final.
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams and go for it,” he said.
He concluded by stating that the Taiwan Embassy together with the Taiwan Technical Mission would be committed to further expansion and promotion of the cooperation programme between the two countries in the years ahead.
“We look forward to seeing the fruits of the bilateral cooperation. We shall try our best to benefit the Emaswati and to maintain a constant relationship between our two countries,’ he said.
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