Trade Hub Supports the Re-Launch of the Swaziland Investor Roadmap
21 May 2012
April 27, 2012 marked a significant milestone when representatives from the private sector, public sector and international organizations convened for the official re- launch of the Swaziland Investor Roadmap, officiated by His Majesty King Mswati III of Swaziland. This was a culmination of a process which started in 2005 when SATH, in collaboration with the Swaziland Investment Promotion Agency (SIPA), developed an investor roadmap that detailed the administrative, procedural and regulatory barriers that hindered investment flows to Swaziland. At the inception, more than ninety recommendations aimed at improving the investment climate in Swaziland were made. However, implementation of these recommendations proved to be very slow owing to a number of reasons, including absence of inter-ministerial consultations on investment issues resulting in lack of coordination and speed in implementing the recommendations, and the slow process of developing the necessary legislative documents recommended.
In light of the slow implementation of the recommendations, coupled with poor rankings in international indicators and current economic crisis in the country, the Government of Swaziland took a decision to re-launch the Investor Roadmap to demonstrate their commitment to the reform process. The aim of the re-launch was also to re-vitalize the process of implementing the 2009 recommendations.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade (MCIT) discussed the process to develop the Investor Roadmap and thanked SATH for all the support in this regard. She criticized the slow implementation of the Investor Roadmap recommendations stressing that SIPA had exploited every window of opportunity to advocate for improved roll-out by all stakeholders. She asked all stakeholders to spare no effort and join hands in improving Swaziland’s competitiveness by eliminating barriers to investment.
The Prime Minister, Dr Sibusiso Dlamini, echoed the sentiments expressed by the Minister and stressed that the re-launch of the Investor Roadmap was a promise made by Government to provide a whole series of tangible deliverables which would make Swaziland a more competitive environment. Government was fully committed to achieving the objectives set out in the Roadmap and it is expected that the re-launch will provide impetus to the implementation process in Swaziland.
His Majesty King Mswati III noted that in order for Swaziland to be competitive in the international market, there was need to improve the investment climate as well as Swaziland’s rankings in international indicators. He called upon all stakeholders to work hard towards improving the investment climate and directed that by 2015, Swaziland should have improved her climate by over 50%. The King noted that Swaziland has slipped from position 67 to 124 in the Ease of Doing Business indicator which is unacceptable. He thus called upon all sectors to make sure that Swaziland’s rankings are improved. With respect to the global competition, the King noted that the country was in a difficult era where global competition for investment was intense thus requiring continuous improvement. In conclusion, the King noted that he was looking forward to receiving regular updates on the status of implementation of the Roadmap.
In closing, the King planted a tree called Umkhanyakude meaning “glow from afar” to symbolize the growth and importance of providing a conducive environment. He noted that plating the tree was testimony and promise that, like the tree which is visible and distinct from afar, the country’s actions in improving the investment climate will also tell the world of Swaziland.
In light of the slow implementation of the recommendations, coupled with poor rankings in international indicators and current economic crisis in the country, the Government of Swaziland took a decision to re-launch the Investor Roadmap to demonstrate their commitment to the reform process. The aim of the re-launch was also to re-vitalize the process of implementing the 2009 recommendations.
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade (MCIT) discussed the process to develop the Investor Roadmap and thanked SATH for all the support in this regard. She criticized the slow implementation of the Investor Roadmap recommendations stressing that SIPA had exploited every window of opportunity to advocate for improved roll-out by all stakeholders. She asked all stakeholders to spare no effort and join hands in improving Swaziland’s competitiveness by eliminating barriers to investment.
The Prime Minister, Dr Sibusiso Dlamini, echoed the sentiments expressed by the Minister and stressed that the re-launch of the Investor Roadmap was a promise made by Government to provide a whole series of tangible deliverables which would make Swaziland a more competitive environment. Government was fully committed to achieving the objectives set out in the Roadmap and it is expected that the re-launch will provide impetus to the implementation process in Swaziland.
His Majesty King Mswati III noted that in order for Swaziland to be competitive in the international market, there was need to improve the investment climate as well as Swaziland’s rankings in international indicators. He called upon all stakeholders to work hard towards improving the investment climate and directed that by 2015, Swaziland should have improved her climate by over 50%. The King noted that Swaziland has slipped from position 67 to 124 in the Ease of Doing Business indicator which is unacceptable. He thus called upon all sectors to make sure that Swaziland’s rankings are improved. With respect to the global competition, the King noted that the country was in a difficult era where global competition for investment was intense thus requiring continuous improvement. In conclusion, the King noted that he was looking forward to receiving regular updates on the status of implementation of the Roadmap.
In closing, the King planted a tree called Umkhanyakude meaning “glow from afar” to symbolize the growth and importance of providing a conducive environment. He noted that plating the tree was testimony and promise that, like the tree which is visible and distinct from afar, the country’s actions in improving the investment climate will also tell the world of Swaziland.
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