Ezulwini– Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg has challenged State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to move beyond their traditional mandates and become active partners in tackling Eswatini’s unemployment crisis, warning that joblessness remains the country’s greatest development challenge despite gains in service delivery.
Addressing Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Finance Officers (CFOs) from public enterprises at the launch of a salary structure review exercise, Rijkenberg said Eswatini had made significant progress in expanding access to electricity, clean water, quality roads and healthcare services, but continued to struggle with creating employment opportunities.
He said unemployment remained a major concern and called on SOEs to use their influence, expertise and commercial networks to help stimulate private sector growth and job creation.
“If you give people electricity, water and roads but they do not have jobs, they cannot afford to benefit from those services,” he noted.
The minister urged public enterprises to work together in identifying industries and economic opportunities that could unlock employment, saying SOEs were often better positioned than government departments to understand the challenges and opportunities facing businesses.
He challenged the enterprises to develop practical proposals that could help government create an enabling environment for investment and enterprise development.
Rijkenberg also appealed to SOEs to support one another commercially where possible, arguing that stronger collaboration among public enterprises could improve their sustainability and contribution to economic development.
The minister further called on public enterprises to remain compliant with tax obligations and support government’s efforts to increase revenue generated through the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
He encouraged entities that import goods and services to consider sourcing through SACU member states, saying this would help boost customs receipts while strengthening regional economic integration.
Meanwhile, Rijkenberg reassured executives that government had not abandoned plans for SOE reforms. He said work was underway to review legislation governing public enterprises before broader reform measures could be implemented.
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