Statement during cocktail to welcome the AU Technical Evaluation Team on the Bid to Host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Honourable Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Senator Manqoba Khumalo, and Members of the Cabinet

Chairperson of the AfCFTA National Steering Committee, Mr. Nathi Dlamini, and all the distinguished members of the Committee,

AU Commission Technical Team Leader, Ambassador Rossette Nyirinkindi-Katungye

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

It is with great pleasure that I join you on this auspicious occasion where the Kingdom of Eswatini welcomes a delegation from the African Union Commission as part of the Kingdom’s bid to host the Secretariat of the newly-established African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These are indeed exciting times for the Kingdom of Eswatini, as the country transforms and repositions itself to be a leading example of Africa’s growth and development, and reaffirms its commitment to the ideals and values of the African Union and the African Integration Agenda.

Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Government of Eswatini, particularly to the Minister of Commerce, for extending an invitation to me to witness this important milestone in the history of the Kingdom. This is a clear demonstration of the close working relations and cooperation between the United Nations and the Government of Eswatini that, after 50 years of UN presence in the country, continues to be govern, to date, by mutual respect, mutual trust, strong solidarity and strategic partnership. This is, as I understand and have witnessed, the type of warmth, welcome, hospitality and appreciation that the Kingdom and its people extend to any of their guests.

Let me also take this opportunity to thank the AU Commission for embarking on a fact-finding mission to ensure that the Secretariat of its newest body is hosted by a nation that has a lot to offer. Eswatini is a small nation that stands solid, majestic and proud under the guidance of Their Majesties, and remains poised and confident to achieve its ambitious and innovative strategies for economic growth through the implementation of modern technology and infrastructure. The Kingdom is well positioned to harness the dividends of the diverse resources available on its soil and is actively engaging the private sector, the youth and women in those endeavours while strengthening partnerships beyond its borders and enjoying brotherly, peaceful and mutually benefiting relationship with neighbouring countries.

I would like to thank you Ambassador Rossette and your team for taking time to visit this beautiful Kingdom. Upon my arrival in December last year, I began a Vusela programme which has given me an opportunity – in a very short space of time – to know what the hopes, the aspirations, the ambitions and the potential of the country and its people are. I must say, at this stage, that the Kingdom has set itself ambitious but achievable targets to achieve His Majesty’s Vision 2022 meant to transform Eswatini into a developed country, but also attained sustainable development goals under UN agenda 2030 and AU agenda 2063.

We were very pleased in this regard to see His Majesty attend the UN High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation that reviewed the trends in South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN family also applauded His Majesty for accepting to chair the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) that aims at achieving near-zero malaria deaths in Africa by the end of 2030; but also for His Majesty’s personal commitment and leadership on the HIV response and the bold decisions made to fast track the end of AIDS in Eswatini by 2022, 8 years earlier than the global target. These are commitments to Emaswati people but also and primarily to the people of Africa, although Eswatini does not host any of the AU organ or agency.

While remaining truthful to its vibrant and enchanting traditions, as well as ancient cultures, the Kingdom continues its quest to forge a progressive, peaceful and independent State equipped with modern infrastructures, energetic ICT and a labour force that may propel the Kingdom to the first-world nation to which it aspires.

The UN family in Eswatini is proud to be a trusted partner of the Government and reaffirms its commitment to address national priorities as outlined in the UNDAF, His Majesty Vision 2022, the revised National Development Strategy and the Economic Revival Roadmap which is soon to be launched by the government. There is talent in the Kingdom, peace and stability to keep, economic growth to sustain and enhance, infrastructure projects to welcome guests and partner institutions and ensure that Eswatini becomes Africa’s commercial hub, a hive of business activities.

We commend His Majesty for launching a bid to host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area, as a clear illustration of Eswatini’s commitment to the African Integration Agenda and tireless efforts to boost the economy, business and trade, and job creation in the Kingdom while being a strong political and economic partner at the regional and continental level.

We wish Eswatini full success in its bid and thank you for your attention.

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