King Positions Eswatini at the Heart of Global Innovation and Climate Action
By Staff Reporter
His Majesty King Mswati III used the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) to reposition Eswatini as a country of vision and ambition, announcing bold partnerships in technology, climate action, and investment while calling for stronger African unity and global reforms.
From groundbreaking deals with Google and Stardust to high-level talks with Turkmenistan and American investors, the King’s engagements showcased Eswatini’s push to be seen not as a small, landlocked nation but as a rising hub for innovation, sustainability, and stability.
At the centre of the week’s events was the launch of a first-of-its-kind ICT partnership with Google, Stardust, SHE Powers Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, which the King described as a turning point for the Kingdom.
“We are grateful for your keen interest in sharing your technologies, experiences, and resources with Eswatini,” His Majesty said. “These initiatives will not only create jobs and expand access to services but also strengthen the resilience of our communities.
The future of Eswatini shines brightly, and it will be forged at the very core of progress.”
The deal, facilitated by Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya, aims to bridge the digital divide and train young Emaswati in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and cybersecurity.
It also includes plans to establish a national space programme in collaboration with Stardust and NASA, a vision that the minister said could one day see Eswatini’s youth travel into space.
On the business front, His Majesty invited more American firms to invest in the Kingdom at a seminar organised by the Ministry of Commerce and the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA).
Coca-Cola, which operates a major concentrate plant in the country, led the endorsements, praising Eswatini’s stability, logistics, and policy reforms. “Eswatini’s growth represents our growth, and we encourage others to explore these opportunities,” said Michael Goltzman, Coca-Cola’s Vice President for Global Policy.
New commitments were also announced across energy, agriculture, and technology, including a US$418 million eco-industrial park to produce sustainable aviation fuel, micro-hydro projects for canal systems, and collaborations in food security.
Minister Savannah Maziya positioned Eswatini as “Africa’s best-kept secret,” stressing its strategic location, growing digital backbone, and investor-friendly policies. “We must not remain a secret. We are Africa’s gateway,” she told delegates.
The King also deepened bilateral relations with Turkmenistan, following his recent state visit there. Talks with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow focused on cooperation in ICT, agriculture, energy, textiles, and mining, areas both countries see as opportunities to turn “zero-trade” into a genuine partnership.
At a high-level climate session, His Majesty unveiled Eswatini’s new Paris Agreement plan (NDC 3.0), committing to reduce 2.24 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.
The plan requires E43 billion (US$2.4 billion) in financing, with the King calling for “scaled-up and predictable support” from global partners.
“Despite our low emissions, Eswatini comes determined to turn vulnerability into resilience,” he said, highlighting investments in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and disaster preparedness.
In a separate address to the African Union Peace and Security Council, His Majesty called for a firm stance against coups and unconstitutional power grabs, stressing that “those who ascend to power through coups must face consequences, not acceptance.”
He urged African leaders to operationalise the African Standby Force and reform the UN Security Council to give the continent a stronger voice. “This is not merely policy, it is a moral imperative,” he said.
The flurry of engagements, from tech innovation and investor deals to climate commitments and diplomacy, paints a picture of a nation positioning itself at the crossroads of Africa’s future.
As His Majesty told global partners: “Eswatini cares about survival and opportunity. With the right support, the country can turn challenges into green growth, food sovereignty, and shared prosperity.”
For a small landlocked kingdom, the message in New York was unmistakable: Eswatini intends not to watch from the sidelines, but to stand at the very heart of global progress.
