Mbabane – The Government of Eswatini has welcomed the completion of Italian-funded development projects worth more than E109 million, with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Senator Pholile Shakantu describing them as a product of the growing partnership between the two countries.
Senator Shakantu made the remarks during bilateral talks with Italy’s Ambassador to Eswatini, His Excellency Gabriele Annis, where she thanked the Italian government for financing the projects, which were officially handed over to beneficiaries on July 3.
The completed projects include the Greening of the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital and the Strengthening of Early Warning Systems and Climate Services at the Meteorological and Water Affairs departments.
The RFM Hospital project has enabled the country’s main referral hospital to operate on approximately 98 per cent solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, while the second project has enhanced the country’s capacity to monitor weather conditions and provide climate-related information.
The two initiatives were funded by the Italian government and implemented with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, and the Ministry of Health.
During the meeting, Senator Shakantu said the projects demonstrate the value of cooperation between Eswatini and Italy and acknowledged the Italian government’s continued support for the country’s development priorities.
She noted that the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017 to cooperate in climate change, environmental management and energy development. The agreement was renewed in 2025, providing the framework under which the completed projects were implemented.
The minister also highlighted the broader relationship between Eswatini and Italy, noting that cooperation continues through multilateral institutions based in Rome, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
She said Eswatini’s engagement with these institutions continues to create opportunities for collaboration in areas such as agriculture, food security, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Discussion about this post