ROC, Swaziland reaffirm strong ties at cooperation conference

2017/08/07

The 20th ROC-Swaziland Economic and Technical Cooperation Conference was held Aug. 2 in Taipei City, highlighting the close and steadfast diplomatic relations between the two nations.

This year’s conference was chaired by ROC Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-kung and Swaziland Minister of Economic Planning and Development Prince Hlangusemphi Dlamini. The prince arrived as head of a 14-person delegation, the largest-ever official group to visit Taiwan from the southern African nation.

The meeting primarily focused on bilateral investment and trade as well as Taiwan’s efforts to provide medical assistance to improve Swaziland’s health care sector, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Dignitaries also discussed potential ways to make it easier for Taiwan enterprises to invest in the diplomatic ally, the ministry added.

MOEA Minister Lee urged Swazi officials to enact regulations that meet the requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a piece of U.S. legislation that provides economies in sub-Saharan Africa with preferential trade treatment such as duty-free exports to the U.S. market. Such a move would be beneficial to Taiwan businesses with operations in Swaziland, he said.

The MOEA and other ROC government agencies have great interest in expanding collaborative ties with Swaziland, the ministry said, adding that greater bilateral trade and investment would strengthen ties between the two nations.

Swaziland is one of ROC’s most important trade partners in Africa as the country is a member state of international economic entities such as the Southern African Customs Union, Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the MOEA said. Currently, there are 25 factories operated by Taiwan businesspeople in Swaziland, spanning such industries as fabric printing, yarn spinning, weaving and dyeing, the ministry added.

The ROC and Swaziland have enjoyed robust relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in September 1968 after the southern African nation gained independence from the U.K. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country has for years voiced unwavering support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and entities such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and World Health Organization.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=119454)