New Ambassadors receive job creation mandate from King

By Delisa Magagula

His Majesty King Mswati III has received the credentials of three new non-resident ambassadors, underscoring the Kingdom of Eswatini’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting economic development through international cooperation.

The ambassadors-designate are Kang Bokwon, Republic of Korea, Noralyn Jubaira Baja, Republic of the Philippines and Tomas Ulieny, Czech Republic.

Prior to presenting their credentials to His Majesty, the ambassadors met with Senator Pholile Shakantu, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for a courtesy call.

During the meeting, the diplomats were briefed on Eswatini’s strategic priorities, including investment opportunities, trade relations, and socio-economic initiatives.

Worth noting, letters of credence (or credentials) are formal diplomatic documents that officially appoint a diplomat as the ambassador to a foreign country.

They are addressed from the Head of State of the sending country to the Head of State of the receiving country (in this case, King Mswati III), asking them to give full credence to what the ambassador will say on behalf of their government.

In his address to the envoys at Lozitha Palace, King Mswati III highlighted job creation as a central priority of his leadership.

He emphasized that the Kingdom is focused on initiatives that provide employment opportunities, particularly for the youth, and encouraged the new ambassadors to explore collaborative programs that would benefit both Eswatini and their respective countries.

“We are now, all of us, living in a global world where in a number of times we have agreed as countries of the world that we need to fulfil especially the programmes of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It has been clear that there is no country in the world that could achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without the support of others,” King Mswati III said.

The King highlighted the importance of cooperation in key sectors such as agriculture, education, infrastructure, and investment.

He also urged business communities from the ambassadors’ countries to consider Eswatini as a destination for development and trade, while encouraging Eswatini entrepreneurs to explore similar opportunities abroad.

“Of course, there is already cooperation that is there, but of course there is always room for expansion towards this cooperation.

We are looking forward that we will be able to sit down with each and every one of you to see where we can arrange some cooperation between our countries,” he added.

The ambassadors responded by expressing their nations’ commitment to deepening diplomatic and economic relations with Eswatini.

Kang Bokwon of the Republic of Korea highlighted Eswatini’s strategic position in Southern Africa and the potential for the Kingdom to serve as a regional hub for trade and investment.

Meanwhile Noralyn Jubaira Baja of the Philippines conveyed greetings from her President and emphasized the intention to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in economic and social development initiatives.

Tomas Ulieny of the Czech Republic also pledged support for programs that promote shared interests, highlighting areas where technical cooperation and investment could be expanded.

Following the presentations, the ambassadors expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended by His Majesty and the Kingdom.

They affirmed their commitment to working closely with the Eswatini government to foster lasting partnerships.

Worth mentioning, this ceremony marks an important milestone in Eswatini’s diplomatic calendar. Since the beginning of the year, His Majesty has received credentials from several foreign envoys, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing engagement with the international community.

The focus remains on bolstering bilateral relations, attracting foreign investment, and supporting initiatives that drive job creation and economic development.

The government of Eswatini continues to emphasize that productive partnerships with other nations are essential to advancing the Kingdom’s socio-economic goals.

His Majesty’s engagements with the ambassadors signal a proactive approach to fostering cooperation that delivers tangible benefits to citizens, particularly through employment programs and investment opportunities.

“The Kingdom looks forward to collaborative initiatives that will strengthen trade, investment, and social development, in line with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals,” said His Majesty in closing.

Several recent presentations of Letters of Credence have occurred. On November 6, 2025, the King received letters from the High Commissioners of Botswana and Rwanda, as well as the Ambassador from Equatorial Guinea.

Noteworthy, in the last five months, King Mswati III has held multiple ceremonies at the Lozitha Royal Palace to formally receive the credentials of 13 ambassadors and high commissioners, symbolizing the strengthening of Eswatini’s diplomatic ties with nations across the globe.

The ceremonies occurred on several dates, starting in late July 2025 with the Ambassador of Japan, Shimizu Fumio, and continuing into September with five envoys from various European Union member states.

October saw the reception of representatives from the State of Kuwait and the Russian Federation.

In November, just one week apart, the King welcomed another round of diplomats from countries including Botswana, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, and the Czech Republic, officially allowing all 13 envoys to begin their full diplomatic duties.

The King often assures the new envoys of the government’s full support and emphasizes cooperation in areas such as economic development, job creation, trade, tourism, and combating diseases like HIV/AIDS.

In turn, the ambassadors convey warm regards from their own heads of state and express their commitment to strengthening ties and exploring new avenues for collaboration, sometimes mentioning specific sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and technology.