Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade’s (MCIT) new strategic direction will be centred on activities that will foster business development and growth for MSMEs in the country.
The direction was given out by the re-appointed Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo during his first meeting with the heads of departments and heads of parastatals under his ministry. The meeting was held at the ministry’s boardroom yesterday morning. During the meeting, the minister highlighted his greatest pleasure to be back in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade and to work with the most dynamic officials in the ministry. He highlighted that there was always a perception in the media that MCIT was performing well. He noted that perception seen and echoed in Parliament and the general public. He encouraged the ministry to maintain that and work as a team to meet the expectation of the population.
Khumalo mentioned the recent Sibaya resolution where His Majesty the King made pronouncements which then form the basis of the government’s strategy. Khumalo highlighted that the king wanted the resolutions from Sibaya to be implemented, because they reflected the wishes and aspirations of emaSwati. Khumalo mentioned that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade has a challenge to end poverty in the country and the economy was not growing and there was an increase in unemployment, especially for the youth. He noted that the government was not hiring, while the private sector was not creating enough jobs and MSMEs were unable to start businesses at a rate that could absorb unemployment, hence the MCIT has to work very hard to create more jobs. “All of the above increase the poverty rate in Eswatini. Most of the Sibaya submissions were directed to the ministry as it is entrusted with uplifting of the economy and job creation,” said the minister.
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