MBABANE – Eswatini will soon establish an embassy in India, a decision that government says will deepen bilateral cooperation, widen opportunities for Emaswati and cement the long-standing relationship between the two nations.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu made the announcement during the 61st anniversary of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, celebrated on 19 September 2025 at the High Commission of India in Mbabane. The minister described the new diplomatic step as an important milestone in Eswatini’s foreign policy direction, particularly in strengthening South-South cooperation.
“We are working towards opening an embassy in India. We already have a lot of Emaswati studying there and the cooperation between our two countries continues to grow. India has a presence in Eswatini, so it is prudent that we reciprocate,” she said.
The ITEC programme, established in 1964, has for decades served as a flagship model of India’s development cooperation, offering training opportunities in various fields. According to the minister, the programme has been instrumental in bridging Eswatini’s skills gap by training both public and private sector participants.
“What is great about the ITEC programme is that it does not only target the civil service, but also professionals from the private sector. We have seen participants from companies such as water services, Montigny and others. This is important because as government, our aim is to close the national skills gap. We want to ensure that in the next intake of scholarships, training is channelled towards addressing this challenge across all sectors,” she said.
She explained that the government expects beneficiaries of the training to return home and use their knowledge to improve the country. “They need to come back and ensure that whatever they have gained during training benefits the Kingdom of Eswatini,” she said.
The minister also thanked India for supporting Eswatini beyond training. She pointed out that the partnership includes infrastructure development in health, with future plans to widen cooperation in renewable energy, climate resilience, and digital governance.
“Our Ministry of ICT is already doing a lot with its counterparts in India on digital governance. Climate change is also one of the areas where we are looking to venture. Once we have our embassy on the ground in India, we will be able to coordinate and implement more projects,” she said.
Dlamini Shakantu added that ITEC remains central to Eswatini’s development efforts because it gives professionals access to India’s technical expertise in fields such as project management, sustainable development, and public finance management. She said the country’s participation in ITEC has also helped build networks that continue to benefit institutions in Eswatini.
She further noted that the government wants to see the bilateral relationship expand beyond state-to-state cooperation. “We want to move our relationship from government-to-government and now have more businesses and individuals collaborating. Cultural exchanges are also an area we want to grow, given that both India and Eswatini are rich in culture. We want more Indians coming to Eswatini for cultural events, while Emaswati continue to take part in activities hosted in India,” she said.
The minister concluded by describing India as a key partner in multiple areas. “India is leading in expertise, particularly in the health sector, and we want to deepen cooperation there. We also want to expand our work together in the media, arts, and entertainment sectors. The opening of the embassy will help us coordinate all these efforts more effectively.”
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