TAIPEI, TAIWAN – A new declaration has been signed and vows have been renewed in the relationship between Taiwan and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Leaders of both countries yesterday pledged to stick by each other through thick and thin.
From our end, His Majesty King Mswati III vowed to stand firm in the country’s bid to have Taiwan become a full participant in international organisations and mechanisms like the United Nations, the World Health Organisations (WHO), the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and INTERPOL.
On the other hand, President Tsai Ing-wen pledged her government’s commitment to facilitating foreign investment in Eswatini and assisting the Royal Science and Technology Park in establishing a one-stop service capability.
Most significantly, Taiwan has pledged to actively assist the country in the construction of a strategic oil reserve, which will benefit the country’s infrastructure and energy security and its economic development initiatives.
Speaking on the strategic oil reserve project, His Majesty said the country looked forward to following it up with an oil refinery.
“In order for the strategic oil reserve to be viable, it has to be supported by an oil refinery that will require no less than 10 million barrels of crude oil per year,” he said.
The’renewing of the vows’ took place at the Presidents’ Hall in the Presidential Office Building yesterday following a Military Honours parade. Signing on behalf of the kingdom was Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Thuli Dladla, while her Taiwan counterpart, Dr Wu, signed on behalf of his government, while His Majesty and President Tsai In-wen looked on.
Also present to witness the ceremony were Inkhosikati LaMashwama, ICT Minister Princess Sikhanyiso, Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg, Attorney General and Chief, Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, Chief Officer in the King’s office, Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze, emaZinyane, Prince Lonkhokhelo, Princess Tsandzisiwe, Eswatini Ambassador to Taiwan Promise Msibi, and King’s Private Secretary Mbongeni Simelane, among others.
Preceding the signing ceremony, both leaders addressed the gathering, stressing the importance of cooperation in the midst of socio-economic challenges facing the world at large and negatively impacting both countries in different ways.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said her country was deeply moved by Eswatini’s call for the full membership of Taiwan in the mechanisms and agencies of international organisations.
She recalled her visit to Eswatini in 2018 where she had an opportunity to meet the Queen Mother and appreciate the role she plays in women’s empowerment, which her government will continue to support.
She also highlighted the support in the areas of health through medical technical missions as well as public and private sector partnerships in agriculture, trade, ICT and medicine, among others.
“The arrival of His Majesty in Taiwan to witness the signing of the Cooperation Declaration is a significant commitment to our partnership, which will go a long way to expand the prosperity of both our countries,” she said.
His Majesty acknowledged several areas of Taiwan’s support that have made a difference in the Kingdom through the Cooperation Agreement for 2018–2021, citing the most recent support as the enabling of the country to discover mineral deposits in some parts of our kingdom. He said the country looks forward to phase two of this project, which will contribute immensely to our economic recovery initiatives.

He also cited strides made in the areas of rural electrification, agriculture, water and sanitation facilities in rural communities, small-holder dairy production, and strengthening cancer diagnosis and treatment in the country’s health facilities.
The support towards the rehabilitation of the Mbabane government hospital; medical expertise, ICT support to the Science and Technology Park at Nokwane was commended by the king.
Other areas acknowledged by His Majesty include educating emaSwati through the academic cooperation programme; providing industrial attachment opportunities to graduates who complete their education in Taiwan; using our English teachers to share their knowledge with the people of Taiwan; and continuing to invest in our national events and cultural ceremonies.
Taiwan’s contribution to the fund towards Eswatini’s economic recovery initiatives in the areas of manufacturing, ICT, agriculture, tourism and the reconstruction fund was also recognised.
On investment, His Majesty invited the Taiwanese business community to take advantage of trade opportunities made available by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA). He said Eswatini was well located to serve as a hub for access to the regional and continental markets and to explore the trade protocols signed between the two countries.
“We are also here to give you the assurance of Eswatini’s investment climate. Our objective is to encourage the expansion of existing businesses and increase the rate of new investment projects, while we actively exchange good business and development programme opportunities in the kingdom,” he said.
The King further invited Taiwan businesses or institutions of innovation and creativity to partner with the kingdom in the establishment of a university of transformation, which Eswatini has been tasked by SADC to establish, saying Taiwan had the required expertise in the area of innovation.
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