Taiwan has reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising large-scale investment into Eswatini as the Kingdom intensifies efforts to transform its economy through industrialisation, technology, energy development and innovation.
Taiwan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said the island was prepared to deepen its economic partnership with Eswatini and facilitate investments capable of supporting the Kingdom’s ambitious development objectives.
Minister Lin was speaking during a luncheon held in honour of Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini in Taipei, bringing together senior government officials and some of Taiwan’s prominent business and industrial leaders. 
Among those in attendance was Stan Shih, Founder and Honorary Chairperson of Acer Inc., alongside other influential figures from Taiwan’s private sector.
The engagement provided an opportunity for Eswatini to present its investment opportunities directly to Taiwanese industrialists while also allowing the business community to share ideas on sectors where Taiwanese expertise and capital could contribute to the Kingdom’s economic transformation.
The discussions covered a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, high technology, renewable energy, smart agriculture, artificial intelligence and smart city development.
Minister Lin said Taiwan viewed Eswatini as one of its most trusted partners and was ready to expand cooperation beyond traditional areas of development assistance into investment, technology and industrial production.
“Taiwan is proud to be one of Eswatini’s most trusted partners.
We will strengthen collaboration in such areas as smart nuclear, smart agriculture, manufacturing and AI.
We will further support the growth of smart cities across the kingdom.”
He said Taiwan was also prepared to share its technological and technical expertise with Eswatini, particularly in the energy sector, as the Kingdom seeks to strengthen its energy security and expand electricity generation to support industrial development.
“Taiwan is happy to share its expertise to take our energy collaboration to new heights and Taiwan remains firmly committed to standing with Eswatini,” Minister Lin said.
At the centre of the emerging partnership is the planned Eswatini–Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park at Phocweni, for which the Kingdom has set aside land.
The proposed industrial park is expected to become one of the key vehicles through which Taiwan’s technological capabilities, industrial expertise and investment can be brought into Eswatini.
Taiwanese business leaders at the luncheon expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities across several sectors identified as priorities under Eswatini’s economic development agenda.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini used the engagement to assure Taiwanese investors that Eswatini was ready to accommodate mega investments.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s investment climate, strategic geographical location and potential to serve as a gateway for Taiwanese businesses seeking access to African markets.
According to the Prime Minister, Eswatini’s unique diplomatic relationship with Taiwan gives the Kingdom an additional strategic advantage in attracting Taiwanese businesses to the continent.
“We have a good partner in Taiwan. We must hold hands and work hard to achieve the goal that His Majesty has, which is to develop Eswatini into a developed status,” said Dlamini.
He added that Eswatini’s relationship with Taiwan presented an opportunity that could benefit both countries economically.
“Eswatini presents an opportunity for Taiwan, being the only country with diplomatic ties with Taiwan in Africa.
Therefore, Eswatini can be the gateway for Taiwan to seize the African market,” he said.
The Prime Minister linked the investment drive to the development aspirations of His Majesty King Mswati III and the government’s Nkwe Programme of Action.
As part of his official visit to Taiwan, Prime Minister Dlamini is expected to visit several high-technology and energy companies in Tainan and Taipei.
