The Brussels Mission recently collaborated with the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority in a quest to garner German investment to the Kingdom of Eswatini. This event was held as a result of discussions that commenced in August of 2018 during the presentation of credentials by Ambassador Mngomezulu to the Federal Republic of Germany.
Discussions with the Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag, DIHK; the central organisation for 79 German Chambers of Commerce and Industry were held in Berlin in August 2018, and therein a proposal towards an event where Eswatini organisations’ representatives would make a presentation to German stakeholders on the investment opportunities available in Eswatini, made.
The event, the first of its kind was held on 30 April 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa, under the theme ‘Eswatini is open for business’. It was initiated by the Brussels Mission in the Berlin discussions mentioned above, and thereafter communication towards implementation facilitated between the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority and the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce.
The event was co-hosted by the two organisations, and was a success. It was attended by more than 35 companies, and the three counterparts (Brussels Mission, Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority and Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce,) are conducting follow-up discussions with the participants regarding interest in investing in Eswatini.
Speakers at the event included the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade – Hon. Manqoba Khumalo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce – Mr. Matthias Boddenberg , the Ambassador of Eswatini to the Kingdom of Belgium and Mission to the European Union, Mr Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority – Ms Hanalora Strydom and the Investment Promotion Manager of the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority, Mr. Martin Masilela. The Eswatini delegation comprised other individuals including the Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Industrial Development Company, Mr Phiwayinkosi Ginindza, and Ms Xolile Ngwenya the First Secretary at the Eswatini Mission in Belgium