The country could soon benefit from new investment opportunities in the energy, petroleum, infrastructure and service delivery sectors following His Majesty King Mswati III’s recent engagements in Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
His Majesty revealed on Saturday that both countries had expressed strong interest in strengthening economic ties with Eswatini and exploring investment opportunities that could contribute to the kingdom’s development agenda.
Speaking during a press briefing at Ludzidzini Royal Residence after returning from the international engagements, His Majesty said discussions centred on sustainable development, economic cooperation and practical ways of improving the lives of citizens through investment and innovation.
The king said many of the meetings focused on the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas such as infrastructure development, housing, healthcare, education and skills development.
“The discussions were centred on how countries can work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure that no country is left behind. There was emphasis on infrastructure, health, education and the need to develop facilities that meet high international standards,” said the King.
He said world leaders and development partners reaffirmed their commitment to working together to achieve these objectives and improve living conditions for citizens across the globe.
Turning to Azerbaijan, His Majesty described the visit as highly productive, saying that country’s leadership had expressed a strong desire to establish economic partnerships with Eswatini.
The king said Azerbaijani authorities were exploring ways of supporting the kingdom’s economic growth through investments, technical cooperation and the introduction of companies with expertise in strategic sectors.
“The president of Azerbaijan indicated that they are looking forward to finding ways to support Eswatini economically. They have programmes and companies that can contribute significantly to the growth of our economy,” he said.
According to the king, Azerbaijan’s strengths in energy and petroleum industries make it an attractive development partner for Eswatini.
He said discussions included the possibility of Azerbaijani companies establishing operations in Eswatini and assisting with industrial development projects aimed at modernising the country’s economy.
“They emphasised that they would conduct feasibility studies in various sectors.
“We discussed the types of industries they could bring to Eswatini and the possibility of establishing sites where companies can develop infrastructure and facilities similar to those found in Azerbaijan,” said the king.
His Majesty noted that the level of development witnessed in Azerbaijan demonstrated what could be achieved through long-term planning and strategic investment.
The king also highlighted Azerbaijan’s innovative one-stop-shop service centres, which provide multiple government and public services under one roof. He said the concept offered valuable lessons for the country, particularly in improving access to essential services for citizens living in remote communities.
“We were shown facilities where people can access different services from one location. It is a model that can help us improve service delivery and bring services closer to the people,” he said.
His Majesty explained that similar services could even be delivered through mobile units travelling to different regions, thereby reducing the need for citizens to travel long distances to urban centres.
“It was a lesson for us. Such mobile service centres can move around the country’s regions and help decentralise services. This would allow information and services to reach communities more quickly and reduce the inconvenience of travelling long distances only to return home without assistance,” he said.
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The king further disclosed that several companies operating in the energy, fuel and petroleum sectors had shown keen interest in investing in Eswatini.
He said Azerbaijan viewed Eswatini as a strategic entry point into the African market, particularly because the country currently has a limited economic presence on the continent.
“They see Eswatini as an opportunity to establish their footprint in Africa. Investing here would help them expand their visibility and business interests across the continent,” said the king.
Regarding the UAE, His Majesty said the visit revealed significant opportunities for cooperation in healthcare, trade and investment.
The king said he found that country peaceful and welcoming and praised the hospitality extended to the local delegation. He also commended the advanced healthcare infrastructure in the UAE, noting that several hospitals visited were developed through partnerships with leading American institutions and operated at world-class standards.
His Majesty said investors and business leaders from both Azerbaijan and the UAE had expressed interest in establishing operations in Eswatini and using the country as a gateway to broader African markets.
To facilitate stronger economic cooperation, the king said there was a need to simplify travel arrangements and strengthen bilateral agreements.
“There should be easier access between our countries. We need agreements that will make travel and business cooperation easier for investors and citizens alike,” he said.
Meanwhile, the king disclosed that a planned visit to India had been postponed following the outbreak of a disease in that country and the issuance of precautionary health advisories.
Despite the postponement, His Majesty said the international engagements had yielded encouraging prospects for the country’s economic development and future investment attraction efforts.
