By Delisa Thwala
His Majesty King Mswati III has lauded Eswatini Oil Mill Industries (SOMI) for employing a high number of emaSwati.
His Majesty was speaking during his tour of the newly expanded SOMI factory in Matsapha Industrial Site on June 26, 2024. SOMI expansion had an investment value of E450 million.
“Congratulations to everyone who has worked hard in this factory. I’m very happy to see so many of our people hired and working here. This is an investment as I have been told this is the second phase,” said His Majesty much to the applause of the people present.
In his address, His Majesty said the investment made by the factory to Eswatini is set to develop and be enjoyed.
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“I have seen the good work being done here, the state-of-the-art equipment and large factory are proof that a lot of important work is done here,” said His Majesty.
The King further highlighted that during the Sibaya, there was also a call or intervention to expand domestic production and value addition to improve industrial performance.
His Majesty said to tackle this, the government aims to enhance economic resilience by diversifying production and export markets by; optimizing value chains in existing industries through backward/forward linkages (textiles/timber, etc.).
Attract businesses in new industries (e.g. pharmaceuticals, agro-processing).
During the tour, His Majesty SOMI Director Mohamed Daud showed His Majesty the King around the large factory which had different factories with different uses.
Daud said over 400 local farmers had been engaged through the Ministry of Agriculture to work with SOMI and they were expected to meet the demand of 13 000 tonnes of sunflower for the first phase of production.
The director said the second phase requires a maximum of 26,000 tonnes for production to reach the full maximum.
Daud said the company invested E60 million in the country, with a potential employment capacity of 180 people at full production.
He said overseas Investment set up a base in the country in 2003 by acquiring land measuring approximately 3.6 hectares.
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He said the factory could crush up to 50 tonnes of sunflower seed per day and 30 tonnes of refinery capacity per day.
The director said the factory was divided into several divisions which carried the different processes of making edible oil.
Daud said though they encountered problems in the past few years, the situation now was neither bad nor good, adding that they were still affected by competition from foreign oil companies that exported the commodity from their countries to Eswatini.
In between the tour, he said SOMI, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, would assist farmers in developing technical ability and that the country had a relatively huge market for edible oil.
The director said SOMI signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government so that the levy charged to foreign companies assists local farmers.
Daud suggested that farmer cooperative associations must work together to supply SOMI with either sunflower, soya, cotton, or ground nuts.
Worth mentioning is that in 2014, the Oil Milling Industry (SOMI) banked its hopes on the World Bank and Taiwan Technical Mission to support local farmers.
Director Mohamed Daud said the two institutions’ help would see local farmers getting farm inputs that would enable them to produce more and supply the edible oil-making company.
He said if farmers had all the necessary inputs, they would be able to plant the required amount of sunflower, cotton, or soya to meet SOMI’s demand, adding that the company would be able to make more oil for the local market.
Present during the tour were His Majesty’s children, Emakhosikati, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, Speaker of the House Jabulani Mabuza, and other cabinet Ministers with senior government officials.
King opens state-of-the-art Umtfombo Wemphilo
During the second leg of the tour, His Majesty King Mswati III unveiled and toured the state-of-the-art factory Umtfombo Wemphilo.
The factory is situated in the heart of Matsapha Industrial Site 10 minutes before Esibayeni Lodge. Here His Majesty cut the ribbon and officially opened the state-of-the-art factory.
He was then taken inside for an in-depth tour, His Majesty’s first stop was the boiler room where all residues from the products were made inside.
The factory produces a variety of beauty soaps, serums, and tea. The tea produced in this factory helps in indigestion, constipation, and all ailments concerned with the immune system.
The 45-minute-long tour saw His Majesty being taken through stage 1 of production and the final production. He was also given samples of tea that can be turned into sparkling water.
Worth mentioning is that the factory falls under manufacturing which is one of the sectors that has led to the country being considered one of the most industrial economies on the continent and had an investment of E1.5 billion.
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Projects under manufacturing included the Lush Hair Care Factory, Umtfombo Wekuphila Health Care Factory, SANO Foods, Britannia Brands, Invert Syrup Plant, Nurscon Flexibles, and Mondelez Expansion, which was to the tune of E60 million.
During this tour, His Majesty was accompanied by Minister of Commerce Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, and other senior government officials.
In between the tour His Majesty King Mswati told the owners of Umtfombo Wemphilo to take things step by step and not rush.
He was also laughing throughout the tour and posing serious questions about the factory and its products.
The rest of the day was then spent at Esibayeni Lodge where His Majesty, Emakhosikati, Emazinyane, and Government seniors dined. No major address was made here on.
