LUANDA – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini held a series of bilateral meetings with senior United States officials on Tuesday, 24 March 2025, on the margins of the US-Africa Business Summit taking place in Luanda, Angola.
The engagements centred on deepening economic diplomacy between Eswatini and the United States, with discussions covering trade, energy, agriculture, mining, and ICT.
The Prime Minister first met with Ambassador Troy Fitrell of the US Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs and Mr Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to former US President Donald Trump. He later held talks with Ms Constance Hamilton, the Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa.
At the core of the discussions was a shared interest in expanding cooperation across sectors aligned with Eswatini’s Government Programme of Action. Dlamini thanked the US for its continued support in healthcare through the PEPFAR programme but noted that the rate of new HIV infections among young people remains a concern.
American officials reiterated their country’s ongoing support for Eswatini’s health sector and acknowledged the country’s diplomatic alignment with the Republic of China, Taiwan. This shared relationship was cited as a basis for potentially stronger economic ties and a future tripartite collaboration.
On trade, the Prime Minister revealed that Eswatini has submitted a formal proposal regarding import tariffs. A team of trade negotiators from Eswatini is expected to meet their US counterparts to iron out details. The initiative was met with a favourable reception.
Dlamini also held a separate meeting with Mr Selim Bora, Chairperson of SUMMA International Construction Group. The Turkish company recently entered into an agreement with the Eswatini Government for the design, financing and construction of a national stadium.
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