United Nations and AeTrade Forge New Partnerships for Youth Empowerment and Job Creation in Eswatini

 The United Nations Country Team in Eswatini and the delegation from the Africa Electronic Trade Group (AeTrade), led by Founder and CEO Mr. Mulualem Syoum, convened at the UN House to discuss future collaborations aimed at leveraging digital transformation for economic empowerment, job creation, and the promotion of sustainable development within the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The United Nations Country Team in Eswatini and the delegation from the Africa Electronic Trade Group (AeTrade), led by Founder and CEO Mr. Mulualem Syoum, convened at the UN House to discuss future collaborations aimed at leveraging digital transformation for economic empowerment, job creation, and the promotion of sustainable development within the Kingdom of Eswatini.The historic meeting, underscored by a shared vision for innovative solutions to address unemployment and foster economic growth, highlighted the critical role of youth and technology in driving forward the nation's development agenda. Dr. Susan Tembo, the UN Resident Coordinator ad interim, warmly welcomed the AeTrade delegation, acknowledging the significance of their visit as a cornerstone for collaboration between AeTrade and the United Nations in Eswatini.

During the meeting, Ms. Margaret Thwala-Tembe, UNPFA Head of Office, provided an overview of the UN Youth Initiative, emphasizing the commitment to young Emaswati and the potential areas for joint efforts in youth economic empowerment, education, and health. Mr. Syoum presented the groundbreaking work of AeTrade in creating a trading platform that eliminates barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa, with a special focus on empowering youth and women through digital access and financial services.

The discussions centered on the vast opportunities for synergy between the UN's initiatives and AeTrade's platform to harness digital economy benefits for Eswatini's youth. The dialogue led to identifying potential areas of collaboration, particularly in advancing the One UN Youth Offer, which seeks to provide comprehensive support across economic empowerment, education, skills development, and health and wellbeing for young Emaswati.

Reflecting on the meeting, Dr. Susan Tembo remarked, "This partnership signifies a promising future for the youth of Eswatini, where digital innovation and collective effort can pave the way for inclusive and sustainable development. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead with AeTrade in empowering our youth to not only participate in but also to lead in the digital economy."

Mr. Syoum expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "AeTrade is committed to transforming the digital landscape in Africa to promote job creation and entrepreneurship among the youth. Our partnership with the United Nations in Eswatini is a pivotal step towards realizing our shared goals of economic empowerment and sustainable development."

The meeting concluded with a commitment to explore concrete steps towards operationalizing the discussed collaborations, with both parties expressing optimism for the impact these efforts will have on the youth and the broader socio-economic landscape in Eswatini.