TAIPEI, TAIWAN – His Majesty King Mswati III has challenged government and EmaSwati studying and working in Taiwan to help Eswatini deliver industrial parks equal to, or better than, the planned Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park, saying the country must find sustainable ways to fund major development projects.
Speaking during a dinner with EmaSwati students and citizens employed in Taiwan, the King said the Taiwan Industrial and Innovation Park, known as TIIP, represented one of the flagship outcomes of Eswatini’s deepening cooperation with the Republic of China (Taiwan). He said the project should become a model for a wider national industrialisation programme that reaches all regions of the kingdom.
His Majesty said the proposed E6 billion TIIP was being planned as more than a collection of factories. It would include industrial space, residential areas, energy supply and supporting services needed to attract investors and create jobs. However, he warned that current energy levels were not sufficient to support deeper industrial growth, making power generation a central part of the project.
The King said Eswatini and Taiwan had discussed possible energy solutions, including solar, wind, biomass and other renewable strategies. He said the world was moving towards climate-friendly sources of power, while Eswatini was also looking at how to use its available resources (like coal) responsibly to support industrial activity.
His Majesty said the assurance received from Taiwan on the TIIP was encouraging because the project would open opportunities for employment, manufacturing and technology transfer. He said the kingdom could not stop with one park, as government was already looking at four additional regional industrial parks that should match or surpass the standard being set by the TIIP.
“We are talking billions here,” the King told the gathering, noting that ministries had been given the task of planning projects that could be equal to or better than the E6 billion development. He said one industrial park would not be enough because development had to be spread across the country and create opportunities closer to communities.
His Majesty said the challenge now was not only to design such projects, but to raise the money required without depending on unsustainable approaches.
He said Eswatini needed alternative financing models, bankable ideas and skilled people who understand how large industrial, residential, health, education and infrastructure components can be packaged into workable projects.
The King urged EmaSwati in Taiwan to contribute ideas through the embassy and to use their exposure to Taiwan’s advanced economy to help the kingdom realise its vision. He said those studying engineering, technology, energy, finance, health, industrial planning and related fields had a critical role to play in making Eswatini competitive.
He added that Taiwan’s achievements in areas such as semiconductors, satellite technology, manufacturing and innovation showed the level to which Eswatini must aspire. He said EmaSwati abroad should learn from these systems and return home ready to help the country move from ambition to implementation.
His Majesty also praised the conduct of EmaSwati students and workers in Taiwan, saying their good behaviour, respect and discipline had created a positive image for the kingdom. He said Taiwanese hosts had expressed appreciation for the way EmaSwati carried themselves, and urged them to continue protecting the country’s reputation.
The King said students were working hard, while those employed in Taiwan had adapted well, including learning Mandarin and integrating into the workplace. He said such commitment demonstrated that EmaSwati could compete internationally and also learn quickly from advanced economies.
For the King, the TIIP and the proposed four regional parks now represent a national test of vision, planning and execution. His message to emaSwati in Taiwan was that the country needs their ideas, skills and discipline to build industries, create jobs and place Eswatini firmly on the path to First World status.
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