Business Eswatini (BE) recently met with representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to explore urgent opportunities for Taiwanese textile manufacturers to invest in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The high-level engagement aligns with His Majesty King Mswati III’s rallying call of Nkwe!—a bold summons for swift and decisive economic action.
The meeting, attended by Taiwanese diplomats Carlos Lin and Jeff Chen, follows the momentum generated by the recent Taiwanese Investment Summit held at the Mountain View Hotel, an event spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Trade.
It focused on fast-tracking textile and other manufacturing investments into Eswatini within a critical three-month window.
New investment opportunities are beginning to emerge within the region as a result of a rapidly changing economic and global landscape. With the volatile geo-political changes taking place across the West and the rewriting of the global trade order, which has seen new trade barriers such as tariffs and other protectionist measures coming into place, the region has become a fertile ground for investment opportunities.
As a result, investors, especially Taiwanese textile manufacturers, are now actively seeking alternative production hubs to mitigate geopolitical risks and diversify their geographical footprint.
Eswatini has emerged as the preferred investment destination, prompting the Taiwanese Embassy to engage BE on how to fast-track these critical investments within the allocated time-reprieve of 3 months.
The Taiwanese Embassy revealed that several companies currently operating in other parts of the region are eager to partially relocate some of their production to Eswatini, drawn by the country’s favorable trade relations, political stability, and His Majesty’s personal appeal for investment.
However, the window of opportunity is narrow. “If concrete plans are not in place timely manner, these investors will start to look elsewhere,” warned the Taiwanese delegation.
This urgency underscores the need for rapid collaboration between government agencies, BE, and the private sector to secure these investments and to provide the factory shells needed by the investors.
BE’s CEO, E. Nathi Dlamini, emphasized that this initiative aligns perfectly with the organization’s mandate to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) and job creation. He noted that the Minister of Commerce and the Minister of Finance are actively exploring strategies to attract investors to Eswatini, making this Taiwanese interest a timely opportunity.
The Taiwanese Embassy further revealed that there are plans to host a seminar in Johannesburg, South Africa, to showcase Eswatini’s trade advantages, further amplifying investment interest. BE commended the Embassy for its proactive engagement, highlighting the importance of strong public-private-diplomatic partnerships in driving economic growth.
The CEO also reassured the Taiwanese delegation of Eswatini’s solid standing with many countries, including the USA, referencing a recent meeting with the US Embassy where officials clarified trade policies and reaffirmed Eswatini’s stable economic prospects. This assurance is critical in bolstering investor confidence.