Africa-Press – Eswatini. A high–powered delegation of Taiwanese business leaders has been in the Kingdom of Eswatini this week, promising a wave of investment and goodwill that indicates the deepening bond between the two nations.
In a symbolic gesture, the investors were received by His Majesty King Mswati III at Mandvulo and presented their investment plans, signalling Eswatini’s emergence as a beacon for Taiwanese capital in southern Africa.
A relationship anchored in shared values and ambitions
Eswatini and Taiwan have cultivated diplomatic relations for more than five decades. This year the partnership moved from rhetoric to results. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade hosted the Eswatini Economic Investment Seminar at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini on 30 July 2025. Minister Manqoba Khumalo said Taiwan’s investors are no longer just exploring possibilities, they are committing capital and technology because previous diplomatic engagements “have been robust over the years”
He praised Taiwan’s strengths in electronics, manufacturing and innovation, noting that these sectors drive global growth. During the seminar Khumalo announced that the Taiwan Industrial Park is nearing fruition. The park will be built on 158 hectares at Pocweni near the Royal Science and Technology Park and will expand to 500 hectares in later phases. It is expected to host companies from diverse sectors and create over 10 000 jobs for Emaswati within five years.
Taiwan’s Special Economic Zone incentives and Eswatini’s strategic location, providing access to South Africa and Mozambique and rail links to ports, make the park a gateway for Taiwanese companies entering Africa. Madam May Liao, head of the Taiwanese delegation, said Eswatini offers “a transparent business environment” and provides strategic access to southern Africa and beyond.
Jobs, factories and a gateway to Africa
Taiwanese firms are not waiting for the industrial park to be completed. Twenty‐one Taiwanese companies already operate in Eswatini, active in textiles, garments, carton manufacturing, plastics and cables. They have invested over US$100 million and created around 13 000 jobs. Ambassador Jeremy Liang applauded Eswatini’s favourable investment climate and described the kingdom as “a strategic gateway for Taiwanese investors seeking to explore the African market.”
He noted that bilateral cooperation includes a reciprocal trade agreement that gives Eswatini a competitive advantage through preferential access to US markets.
During their visit, the Taiwanese investors met the King at Mandvulo to formally present their investment proposals. The monarch, who has championed the country’s vision of industrialisation under the Nkwe directive, welcomed the delegation and praised Taiwan for being Eswatini’s steadfast ally. In response, the investors reiterated their commitment to help Eswatini harness its potential in manufacturing, renewable energy and digital infrastructure.
Digital transformation – a 5G gift to the monarch
The 5G Network and Mbabane Smart City Project, a collaboration between Taiwan and the Eswatini government, epitomises the partnership’s innovative spirit. At the official handover on 24 April 2025, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini described the project as a fitting birthday gift for His Majesty King Mswati III, saying it reflects Eswatini’s ambition to become a digitally empowered nation.
The E38 million Taiwan‐supported project includes a high‐tech control centre and real‐time surveillance systems and is a milestone in the country’s digital transformation. Dlamini noted that Taiwan’s support was instrumental in aligning Eswatini with the Fourth Industrial Revolution; the network promises unprecedented speed, reliability and capacity, essential ingredients for a smart society.
The PM announced that further phases will add water and weather sensors along the Mbabane River and provide free public Wi‐Fi to enhance disaster preparedness and digital inclusion. He also disclosed that the smart‐city technologies would expand to urban centres such as Manzini, Matsapha, Nhlangano and Siteki. Dlamini urged the nation to draw inspiration from this project and apply the same spirit of unity to other sectors.
Empowering women and youth: microfinance and skills training
Taiwan’s commitment extends beyond infrastructure. During a visit to Eswatini in April 2025, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia‐lung announced an additional US$500 000 contribution to the Women Business Start‐up Microfinance Revolving Fund, which had been launched in January 2024 with US$1 million.
The fund, run by the Ministry of Commerce and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, has approved over 500 loans and empowered hundreds of rural women entrepreneurs. Officials describe it as a beacon of hope for women seeking capital to start small enterprises.
Taiwan has also supported Eswatini’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. Over the past four years the Taiwan Technical Mission has worked with Eswatini’s education ministries to develop 11 official trade qualifications in fields like auto‐electrics, welding and solar energy. Ten of these qualifications are already registered, while a Solar PV qualification is expected later this year. The first phase of the programme concludes in mid‐2025, with plans to expand training to centres such as MITC, Mpaka and SITC. These standards aim to align Eswatini’s TVET with regional benchmarks and improve employability for young skilled workers across southern Africa.
Towards energy security and green development
Another significant project unveiled during Foreign Minister Lin’s visit is the Strategic Oil Reserve Facility planned for Phuzumoya, Siphofaneni. According to Taiwan’s embassy, the facility will be completed within three years and will provide Eswatini with a 60‐day fuel reserve to enhance energy security. The project underscores Taiwan’s willingness to invest in critical infrastructure, including energy resilience and renewable energy development.
Taiwanese investors are also exploring green energy, pharmaceuticals, multimedia, drone technology and smart construction. With the planned industrial park and continuous policy reforms designed to create a predictable and transparent business environment, Eswatini is positioning itself as a hub for Taiwanese investments in Africa. Minister Khumalo emphasised that a new investment and trade policy review will simplify procedures and introduce automatic work visas for qualifying investors.
Shared prosperity and mutual respect
From 5G connectivity and smart cities to microfinance, vocational training and industrial development, Taiwan’s investments weave a narrative of shared prosperity. Eswatini’s government and monarchy have reciprocated with unwavering support for Taiwan on the international stage, reinforcing diplomatic recognition and cooperation. Ambassador Liang encapsulated the sentiment when he declared: “Taiwan can help; Eswatini can lead!”
As Taiwanese investors depart after their royal audience at Mandvulo, optimism is palpable. The projects announced this week promise not only jobs and infrastructure but also empowerment, for women entrepreneurs, for unemployed youth seeking skills, and for a nation charting its path in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With friends like Taiwan, Eswatini’s future is looking positively bright.
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