By Ncaba Ntshakala
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has returned to Eswatini following an invitation from the Taiwanese government, marking the successful conclusion of a week-long visit filled with significant engagements and promising developments.
The Prime Minister, upon his arrival at King Mswati III International Airport, shared highlights of his trip, emphasising the fruitful discussions and agreements reached during his time in Taiwan.
During his visit, the Prime Minister had the honour of meeting with several key figures in Taiwanese leadership, including President Tsai Ing-wen and President-Elect Dr. William Lai Ching-te.
Both encounters were marked by expressions of commitment to further strengthening the enduring relations between Eswatini and Taiwan, which have spanned 56 years.
One of the pivotal moments of the visit was the Prime Minister’s engagements with Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Wu, and Premier Chen Chien-jen.
Both officials reaffirmed Taiwan’s unwavering support for Eswatini, particularly in supporting the efficiency of its civil service, a vital aspect of national development.
ALSO READ: Prime Minister hails strong ties…
In a bid to attract investment to Eswatini, the Premier expressed that he addressed Taiwanese investors at a seminar jointly organised by the Government of Taiwan, the Eswatini Embassy in Taiwan, and the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA).
The Prime Minister highlighted the nation’s potential as an ideal investment destination, emphasising the vast opportunities for market access in Africa.
Following this, the Eswatini Embassy in Taiwan will spearhead efforts to follow up with interested business entities, to translate expressions of interest into tangible investments.
A significant development in sports diplomacy emerged during the visit when the Prime Minister visited the Tainan TSG, a prominent Taiwanese company with a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility.
TSG expressed interest in establishing an exchange program with Eswatini, enabling Eswatini’s professional basketball players to participate in Taiwan’s Ghost Hawks team. Additionally, Taiwan, through its Ambassador, Jeremy Liang, offered sponsorship for a basketball tournament in Eswatini.
Further enriching the visit was the Prime Minister’s tour of the Taoyuan Refinery Plant in Taoyuan City, where discussions centred on environmental considerations and best practices relevant to Eswatini’s plans for constructing its first Strategic Oil Reserve.
Additionally, opportunities for cooperation in healthcare emerged during discussions with Taipei Medical University, which expressed interest in collaborating with Eswatini to combat chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
ALSO READ:Prime Minister jets out, makes…
The Prime Minister shared that he also visited the Disaster Prevention Research Center at the National Cheng Kong University, where he met with emaSwati who are studying and working in Taiwan.
Encouraging them to return home upon completion of their studies, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini emphasised the importance of innovative ideas in propelling the Kingdom towards further development.
An agreement was reached to strengthen relations between National Cheng Kong University and the University of Eswatini, including the development of a Master’s degree program in Disaster Risk Management in Eswatini and the introduction of scholarships for emaSwati interested in studying disaster risk reduction at the university.
In his remarks upon returning to the country, the Prime Minister further expressed gratitude for the opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations with Taiwan and hailed the enduring relationship between the two countries as rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to advancing the well-being of their respective populations.
