In the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak that’s rapidly changing the global landscape, the Kingdom of Eswatini is transforming its corporate environment to make it easier for businesses to operate. We are gunning for the lead position on ease of doing business in Africa.
Though we are currently in a coronavirus-induced lockdown, Eswatini is confident that, when the dust settles, we will use every opportunity to bring business into the country.
We are ready to increase our competitive advantage in Africa and improve the conditions conducive to doing business. Trading across Eswatini’s borders will become easier for investors as we work to fulfil the goals of our Strategic Roadmap 2019-2022.
The roadmap was initially crafted to push the kingdom into double-digit growth and attract further foreign direct investment. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic significantly affecting the global economy, we are now bracing for lower-than-anticipated growth and preparing for recovery.
As it stands, we have acknowledged the complaints of potential investors — including procedures that affect and prolong the launch of businesses, delays in securing permits and trading licences, and the high corporate tax rate.
We have also noted that investors sometimes don’t recognise the vast value that each country on the continent can offer — Africa is treated as a single entity, leading to major setbacks in investment by multinationals.
To remedy this, we are re-educating the world on what Eswatini can offer. We want to use this as an opportunity to show the world that the kingdom is open for business.
