ABU DHABI, UAE: His Majesty the King, accompanied by Inkhosikati LaMashwama, arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday on a four-day official visit after attending the SADC Summit in Zimbabwe.
His Majesty was received by Sheik Shakboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport before being escorted to the Emirates Palace.
Among the objectives of the visit is seeking to promote, protect and increase investments as well as strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries who are engaging as far as avoidance of double taxation on investment.
It has been established that both governments will encourage private sector institutions to explore and increase investment opportunities as well as to boost trade and development.
The Eswatini delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry Manqoba Khumalo and Minister for Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe. Also forming part of the delegation is Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg.
The visit marks the last leg of a four-country visit for the king who attended the inauguration of Rwanda president Paul Kagame, honored a state visit invitation by Ugandan President Paul Kagame before attending the 44th SADC Summit in Zimbabwe.
Notably, several cooperation agreements have been signed with Rwanda and Uganda during these visits, which are expected to be followed up by government officials of each country to bring them to fruition.
In Rwanda, the two governments signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on four instruments of bilateral cooperation in the areas of Defence, Police, Correctional Services and Immigration.
The agreement on police cooperation will foster collaboration to combat transnational crimes, exchanging information and intelligence on criminals and criminal activities, capacity building in community policing, and sharing expertise and best practices.
The MoU on Cooperation in the field of Correctional Services aims to enhance correctional institutions’ standards encompassing various areas such as science and technology training, prison industries, rehabilitation of offenders and collaboration in research, planning, sports and culture.
The MOU on Defence and Security Cooperation will strengthen the defense capabilities of both nations by fostering cooperation in training, research, development, procurement, maintenance of defense goods and services, peace support, cooperation in humanitarian operations and inter-defense communication.
The Immigration MoU involves Visa Exemption to allow the free movement of citizens who hold diplomatic and service passports in the two respective nations to travel freely thus enhancing trade and tourism.
In Uganda, the two governments signed two agreements of cooperation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in the Agriculture field was one of two agreements signed at Uganda’s State House.
On Agriculture, the two countries agreed to set up favourable conditions for the development of economic and technological cooperation in the field of agriculture and rural development. It will be managed through a Joint Technical Committee. It will allow the exchange programmes of experts, technicians, for the improvement of animal and plant production and soil fertility, storage and processing, among others.
The other agreement signed is the General Cooperation Agreement on the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC). The general framework establishing a the JPCC seeks to identify possible areas for cooperation in the economic, scientific, technical, environmental, educational and cultural fields.
In Zimbabwe at the SADC Summit, His Majesty signed a Declaration on the protection of people living with albinism. The king is expected back home on Saturday.
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