UN Resident Coordinator's Remarks Meeting with AfFCTA Secretary-General

UN Resident Coordinator, Mr George Wachira’s Remarks 
Honourable Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Mr Manqoba Khumalo
Your Excellency Mr. Wamkele Mene, the AfCFTA Secretary-General, 
Principal Secretary and Government Officials,
Captains of Industry, Ladies and gentlemen.
“NGIYANIBINGELELE NINE BEKUNENE, SANIBONANI”

First, on behalf of the UN, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade and the Kingdom of Eswatini for the continued progress in the AfCFTA journey including the development of Eswatini's National Implementation Strategy and joining the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI). We wish you more success and pledge our continued accompaniment. 

Second, a warm welcome to Your excellency Mr. Mene to the Kingdom of Eswatini, and congratulations on your recent re-appointment as the SG of AfCFTA. In our current global reality, inter-Africa trade, and the investments that it must spur, presents the most viable pathway to a brave new continent, and we are glad that you are at the helm of the initiative at this time.

In relation to UN engagement with the AfCFTA, we are here this afternoon to signal our strong support and partnership with the MCIT and the government in general. We are glad that we have been engaged from the start of Eswatini’s AfCFTA journey up tot he development of the National Implementation Plan, and will continue to lend support to the best of our abilities. 

We see the Eswatini’s engagement with the AfCFTA as key in lifting people out of poverty, creating jobs, spurring investments, and driving national transformation. Between where we are now, and the realisation of these important ideals, lies the hard work of engineering purposeful change through robust institutional arrangements, capacity-building at all levels, enhancing export readiness and competitiveness in regional markets, facilitating access to development finance especially for MSEs and women in trade initiatives, fostering innovation and efficiency, among others. 

I am happy to indicate the following seven indicative areas where UN Agencies in Eswatini can support in the implementation of the Eswatini National AfCFTA implementation Strategy. The list is not exhaustive.

Review and Harmonization of Policies, Whole-of-Government Approach and Systems-Thinking:
o    The need to ensure the entire policy environment is geared towards facilitating trade and investments - the education system; ease of doing business; policies to facilitate the digital economy and the creativity of the young generation; niche location in the regional value chains; immigration policy and how it may attract or hinder investments; our land policy; affordable energy, energy mix choices and transition planning, access to affordable finance by all, etc. These are areas that the UN has comparative advantage and can support.
o    Happily, the UN is already engaged with some of these areas, and good progress has been made (for example the recent establishment of a national committee on education).
o    More could be done to ensure a whole-of-government and systems approach in policy harmonisation.

Capacity Building and Technical Assistance:
o    Capacity of public and private sector in understanding and engaging with the AfCFTA including the legal and regulatory frameworks such as rules of origin, trade facilitation, and dispute resolution mechanisms. 
o    Building Civil Service Excellence as a facilitator of trade and investments
o    Tailored capacity-building for youth and women in entrepreneurship, trade skills, and business development to empower them to take advantage of AfCFTA opportunities.

Providing expertise in specific sectors: UN agencies can leverage their expertise in areas such as agriculture, health, education, digital infrastructure and technology to support the development of targeted programs under the AfCFTA strategy.
o    Specific sector capacities, for example in agriculture (through FAO):
1.    Leverage recently concluded food control systems to support a structured food system control to facilitate safe trade in food and agricultural commodities. 
2.    Lab capacity for testing crop and livestock commodities preparing Eswatini for AFTCA
3.    Capacities on digital agriculture practices and effective participation in digital markets.

 Lessons Learning and Transfer
o    The UN is well-placed to facilitate lessons learning and transfer:
1.    Already, the UNECA published in November last year an important report titled “The Guided Trade Initiative: Documenting and Assessing the Early Experiences Of Trading Under The AfCFTA”, which already provides useful lessons for countries like Eswatini that have joined in the second round of the GTI.
2.    In March this year, the UN (through UNDP and UNECA) collaborated with the Central Bank of Eswatini in hosting a Roundtable on how we could leverage policy tools to encourage financing in certain sectors. We particularly learned from India’s experience in “Priority Sector Lending” where commercial banks were encouraged over the last 50 years to invest in technology, education, agriculture, SMEs, and energy, among others, which is seen to have contributed to India’s economic transformation.
3.    Lessons form the Capacity in Global Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and others standards for smallholders and youthful farmers which prepare them to meet requirements in cross border and international trade.

Support to Convening, Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement: 
o    As a trusted and impartial partner the UN has convening power and is able to bring together actors in Government, private sector, international community, investors, civil society and communities around development issues to support a coordinated approach to AfCFTA implementation.

Supporting Resource Mobilization:
o    We stand ready to assist in mobilizing financial and technical resources to bolster the implementation of the strategy effectively.

LNOB is at the core of the UN’s work. It is a reminder that a society’s progress can be measured by how well it takes care of those within it that have been left behind. With regard to AfCFTA, the UN can support government in ensuring the participation of youth, women, PWDs, rural and urban SMEs, etc.
In conclusion, congratulations again, Hon. Minister, welcome to Eswatini, Your Excellency SG, and please be assured of the UN’s continued partnership in the AfCFTA journey.

Thank you!