KUALA LUMPUR: Eswatini is opening its doors to Malaysian investors, offering strategic opportunities in key sectors - renewable energy, agro-processing, infrastructure, and information and communication technology (ICT) - as the African kingdom seeks to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
Eswatini's High Commissioner to Malaysia Menzie S. Dlamini said the country aims to serve as a strategic manufacturing hub for Malaysian companies seeking to access the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market and beyond.
"One of our key objectives is to enhance trade relations and attract more investors," he said on Bernama TV's programme "Diplomatic Dispatch" recently.
Dlamini also listed other priority sectors for investment including textiles, energy, mining, tourism, and construction, which are open to Malaysian investors.
He said Eswatini would welcome Malaysian companies, particularly those manufacturing solar panels, to explore opportunities in the kingdom by using it as a launch pad to manufacture locally and then export to the SADC region and also Europe.
Eswatini offers global access advantages as it also enjoys preferential trade access to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers additional incentives for export-oriented businesses, he said.
"We want our people to have jobs, but we also want to welcome investors with whom we can discuss arrangements such as tax exemptions and profit repatriation.
"It all depends on the scale of investment. Our mission is to create mutually beneficial partnerships and attract more investors," he said.
He pointed to existing collaboration with Malaysian entities including Probase - a Malaysian company currently involved in stabilising road infrastructure in Eswatini.
As a developing nation, Eswatini continues to seek strategic partnerships to accelerate infrastructure development and drive industrial growth, he said.
Dlamini also extended a warm invitation to Malaysians to experience Eswatini's vibrant cultural festivals and natural landscapes, noting that Malaysian passport holders can visit the country visa-free for up to 30 days.
"Kindly visit Eswatini. We're waiting for you. Come and enjoy our hospitality and our ambience," he said.
He highlighted the Incwala, Marula and Umhlanga (Reed Dance) ceremonies as major cultural events that draw thousands of local and international visitors every year.
"The women and men dance all night with the King, and even have the opportunity to express their views or offer advice openly. It's a very inclusive occasion," he said.
Describing Eswatini as safe, welcoming and culturally rich, Dlamini added: "You won't need a visa, just your ticket, accommodation, and a love for culture."
Malaysia and Eswatini established formal diplomatic relations on Sept 1, 1992. — Bernama
