By Sifiso Nhlabatsi
LOZITHA – More than 2 500 members of the Indian diaspora living in Eswatini remain an important pillar of the relationship between the two countries, according to India’s High Commissioner-designate Anand Prakash.
Prakash said the Indian community was a key element of the bilateral relationship and would continue contributing towards stronger people-to-people ties between India and Eswatini.
He was speaking on Thursday evening when presenting his Letters of Accreditation to His Majesty King Mswati III at Lozitha Royal Palace.
“Presence of more than 2,500 Indian diaspora community in Eswatini is a key element of our bilateral relations, and I am sure that people-to-people ties between our two countries will continue to grow for the mutual benefit of our two countries,” said Prakash.
He said India was already providing e-Visa services to emaSwati, while Eswatini had recently started issuing e-visas to Indian nationals.
According to Prakash, the reciprocal visa arrangements could increase contact between the peoples of the two countries and promote tourism.
The High Commissioner-designate said people-to-people relations were being supported by cooperation in education, culture and skills development.
He noted that more than 130 Eswatini students had utilised scholarships under India’s Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme during the past four years.
Prakash said India had increased the number of scholarships available to Eswatini from 30 to 40 for the current year, while a special Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics course had also been made available to an emaSwati student each year.
He further said more than 700 emaSwati had participated in civil and defence courses under India’s Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme.
The diplomat said cultural exchanges were another important component of the relationship, noting that seven major cultural delegations from Eswatini had travelled to India during the seven years of the Indian High Commission’s existence in the Kingdom.
He said another handicraft and cultural delegation was expected to participate in the Suraj Kund Mela in India in February 2027.
Prakash also highlighted the participation of Eswatini student Tiyandza Melokhule Ndlovu of St Theresa High School in the ShakthiSAT programme in India, describing it as a new chapter in bilateral cooperation in science and technology.
He said India and Eswatini would continue working to expand exchanges and opportunities that bring their peoples closer.
The emphasis on people-to-people relations comes as the two countries seek to build on longstanding diplomatic ties and expand cooperation beyond government-to-government relations.
Prakash said he would work with the Government of Eswatini to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries during his tenure.
