By Sifiso Nhlabatsi
MBABANE – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, has been thanked by Taiwan for his support of the proposed Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park (TIIP) in Eswatini, a project expected to attract investment, stimulate innovation and create employment opportunities.
The appreciation was conveyed by Lin Chia-lung during a banquet hosted in honour of Khumalo and his delegation in Taipei on July 2.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin expressed gratitude for Khumalo’s continued support for the TIIP project, saying the initiative was expected to encourage more Taiwanese companies to establish operations in Eswatini.
He said the park would serve as a catalyst for increased investment, technological innovation and job creation, while contributing to the Kingdom’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.
The banquet was held during Khumalo’s visit to Taiwan, where he and his wife attended celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the International Cooperation and Development Fund.
Lin also thanked the Government of Eswatini for its longstanding support of Taiwan and acknowledged the role played by King Mswati III in facilitating the recent visit of Lai Ching-te to the Kingdom, describing it as a reflection of the strong friendship and mutual trust between the two nations.
Responding, Khumalo said Eswatini valued its partnership with Taiwan and highlighted the positive impact of cooperation with TaiwanICDF in key sectors, including healthcare, education, youth development and women’s empowerment.
He said these programmes had contributed significantly to improving the welfare and social development of the people of Eswatini.
Khumalo further reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral relationship and expressed optimism that the Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park would become a major milestone in strengthening economic cooperation and delivering shared prosperity for both countries.
During the visit, Khumalo also participated in several high-level meetings and discussions and signed the joint statement titled “Investing in Resilience and Prosperity: Digital Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” reaffirming Eswatini’s support for Taiwan.
The Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park is expected to deepen industrial cooperation between the two countries by attracting Taiwanese manufacturers and investors to Eswatini, strengthening the country’s industrial base and creating employment opportunities.
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