LUDZIDZINI – Taiwan could provide employment opportunities for approximately 1 000 emaSwati annually while also committing to fund the construction of houses for vulnerable citizens every year, as the two countries seek to strengthen their longstanding development partnership.
His Majesty King Mswati III announced the commitments while reporting on his recent visit to Taiwan during an address to the nation at Ludzidzini Royal Residence on Saturday night, outlining discussions that covered employment, housing, education, industrialisation, energy security and agriculture.
On employment, the King said discussions with Taiwan’s leadership had explored the possibility of taking approximately 1 000 emaSwati to the country annually, where they would be equipped with skills in different occupational fields.
The proposed initiative could widen employment opportunities for emaSwati beyond the teaching profession, which has traditionally accounted for a significant number of emaSwati working in Taiwan.
The King revealed that he had met Taiwanese businesspeople who expressed interest in employing emaSwati, explaining that some companies were experiencing shortages of human resources.
He said Taiwan’s President had undertaken to look into additional employment opportunities for emaSwati, potentially opening doors for citizens to work in different sectors while gaining international experience and specialised skills.
The programme would also involve preparing participants for life and employment in Taiwan, including training in Mandarin, the language widely spoken in the country.
The proposed annual placements could enable emaSwati to acquire skills and experience that could potentially contribute to Eswatini’s economic development, particularly if participants apply the expertise gained abroad upon returning home.
Meanwhile, the King announced that Taiwan had pledged to allocate funds annually towards the construction of houses for vulnerable emaSwati, providing continued support for a programme intended to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged citizens.
He explained that the housing initiative would benefit from annual funding, strengthening Taiwan’s contribution towards providing decent shelter for emaSwati in need.
The commitment formed part of the broader development discussions held during the King’s visit, which also focused on identifying practical ways of expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The annual housing allocation is expected to provide a basis for continued assistance to vulnerable citizens, although the King did not disclose the amount Taiwan would commit each year or the number of houses expected to be constructed.
The housing pledge and proposed employment initiative represent two distinct areas of cooperation, with one focusing on improving living conditions for vulnerable emaSwati and the other seeking to expand access to overseas employment and skills development.
The King further reported that the proposed industrial park, estimated at E6 billion, remained an important initiative being explored by the two countries.
He said discussions had focused on finding ways to move the project forward and bring it closer to implementation.
Taiwan had also indicated its willingness to train emaSwati who would eventually be responsible for operating the industrial park.
The King emphasised the importance of equipping emaSwati with the expertise required to manage and sustain the initiative, with the long-term objective of placing the country’s industrial development in the hands of its own people.
The industrial park is viewed as a potential avenue for expanding manufacturing activities, creating employment and strengthening Eswatini’s productive capacity. However, its progress will depend on the outcome of ongoing discussions and the arrangements required to implement the proposal.
On education, the King said Taiwan had expressed willingness to increase the number of emaSwati receiving scholarships to study in the country, further expanding opportunities for education and skills development.
Energy security also featured during the discussions, with the King commending Taiwan for its support towards the construction of the Strategic Oil Reserve, which is designed to provide storage equivalent to 60 days of fuel consumption.
He said the two countries had considered possibilities for expanding the reserve’s capacity, particularly amid global fuel supply disruptions that have highlighted the importance of strengthening national energy security.
Trade relations and agriculture were also discussed, with the King encouraging emaSwati to pursue greater ambitions in entrepreneurship and industrialisation.
He said Eswatini could draw lessons from Taiwan’s development experience, particularly its use of smart agricultural technologies to sustain production beyond seasonal limitations.
The King encouraged the country to explore similar approaches to improve productivity, strengthen food security and make better use of available agricultural resources.
The outcomes of the visit point to several areas in which Taiwan and Eswatini intend to deepen their partnership, including the proposed annual placement of approximately 1 000 emaSwati in employment, recurring support for housing construction for vulnerable citizens, expanded scholarships and the proposed industrial park.
The implementation of these initiatives will be critical in determining how the commitments and proposals translate into tangible benefits for emaSwati.
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