BY PHESHEYA IAN KUNENE
MBABANE – The Kingdom of Eswatini has joined the global conversation on investment and economic growth at the 14th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), currently underway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Honourable Manqoba B. Khumalo, is leading the country’s delegation at the prestigious event, which started on Monday and is expected to conclude today (Wednesday).
Themed “Mapping the Future of Global Investment: The New Wave of a Globalized Investment Landscape – Towards a New Balanced World Structure,” this year’s AIM is being held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, with the objective of accelerating global economic recovery.
Minister Khumalo is accompanied by officials from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Eswatini in the UAE, as well as the Director of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Mr. Mluleki S. Dlamini.
The Honourable Minister was one of the distinguished panelists during the high-level Ministerial Roundtable discussion titled “A New Globalized World: Building Bridges – Building Wealth.” During the session, he emphasized the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector in driving sustainable economic growth. He informed participants that Eswatini had launched a three-year energy efficiency programme aimed at reducing reliance on imported energy and ensuring a stable supply for industrial development.
He also shared that the Kingdom remains committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, which focuses on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. According to Minister Khumalo, Eswatini continues to attract investment in multiple sectors, thereby contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation.
The Minister also highlighted the recent implementation of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act, a government initiative aimed at creating more business opportunities for citizen-owned enterprises. He further stated that the development and promotion of MSMEs remains a priority, given their potential to significantly boost the national economy.
In addition, the Minister made reference to the launch of the State Business Relations (SBR) initiative, which is designed to ensure policy coherence and foster greater collaboration between the government and private sector across key areas such as energy, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and mining.
The Eswatini delegation also participated in a session focused on “Investment in Tourism: Shaping Tourism Investment Opportunities through Policy Innovation.” In the coming days, the team is expected to attend further sessions addressing strategies for MSME development, the empowerment of women entrepreneurs, global expansion for SMEs, risk management, and unlocking finance for agribusiness SMEs.
The Annual Investment Meeting is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier platforms for promoting international investment and fostering global economic partnerships.
