Mbabane– Eswatini is poised to receive an investment exceeding E220 million from Turkmenistan-based technology company Aydyn Gijeler, a development expected to accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation and infrastructure modernisation efforts.
The proposed investment, valued at approximately $11.7 million, will focus on the Information and Communications Technology (ICT), transport and immigration sectors, according to the Government of Eswatini.
The initiative is a direct outcome of His Majesty King Mswati III’s diplomatic engagement with Turkmenistan, which began during an official visit to the Central Asian nation last year and was further strengthened through discussions with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
To advance the investment discussions, a high-level Eswatini delegation led by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu, and Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe recently met with executives of Aydyn Gijeler.
The Turkmen enterprise, a joint government and private sector-backed company, specialises in electronics manufacturing and the development of large-scale digital solutions. The company has identified Eswatini as a potential destination for investments aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, transport logistics systems and immigration technologies.
Speaking during the engagement, Khumalo positioned Eswatini as an attractive gateway for investors seeking access to African markets.
“Eswatini is strategically positioned as a gateway for expanding operations across the African continent and beyond,” he said, citing the country’s access to regional and continental markets through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
The introduction of Aydyn Gijeler’s technologies could significantly enhance border management systems, improve transport efficiency and contribute to the growth of the country’s technology sector. The investment is also expected to create skilled employment opportunities and facilitate knowledge transfer to local professionals.
The company has already conducted an initial site visit to Eswatini and is expected to return to the country in early June for further engagements aimed at finalizing and advancing the proposed projects.
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