Times Of Swaziland: BUSINESS ESWATINI, SACCI SIGN MOU

BUSINESS ESWATINI, SACCI SIGN MOU
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BY KWANELE DHLADHLA   on 12/09/2019 00:20:00


MBABANE – The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has
signed a cooperation agreement with Business Eswatini.
The President of South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI),
Advocate Mtho Xulu, supported by his Chief Executive Officer, Alan
Mukoki-Hlongwane and the Head of Policy advisor Wilfred Tshuma, signed the
agreement with Business Eswatini which was represented by its CEO, Nathi
Dlamini.
The signing ceremony was undertaken on the sidelines of the ongoing 25th Meeting
on the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSCOE) of
Southern Africa funded by United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECA)
conference in Ezulwini where all SADC countries were in attendance.
Witnessing the event for Business Eswatini was Musa Maseko, who is Head of Trade
and Commerce at Business Eswatini.
Dlamini thanked his South African counterparts for agreeing to partner with
Business Eswatini, especially because South Africa remains Eswatini’s major
trading partner.
timely
The CEO further said the cooperation agreement was timely given the volatilities
that had been experienced of late, where there was loss of life due to social
upheavals in the republic.
He said this was unfortunate and then called for calm on all sides.
Dlamini further stated that the upheavals had affected Eswatini businesses in
ways that were despicable.
He said the damage caused was still being assessed and quantified but would
definitely run in the millions.
Advocate Xulu said the organisation strives to promote collaboration at an
international level, to create visibility especially within the region with
intent to create mechanisms which support business collaboration and investment.
He mentioned that the MoU signed with Business Eswatini was a perfect example of
their drive to promote such efforts and strengthen relationships.
“Upon return in South Africa, we will identify sectors which have the ambition
of doing business here in the kingdom, as part of the collaborative arrangement
and give force to the implementation of this agreement,” Xulu promised.
He also mentioned that in their next meeting slated for next week, he would
inform all members on the opportunities to be explored from the agreement.
launching
During conversations on the table, Dlamini made mention that the MoU had come at
an opportune time as the country would soon be launching the E-Commerce platform
driven by AeTrade in October.
This platform is an extension of the AfCFTA organ meant to create an open border
trade environment in Africa.
In absentia, Business Eswatini President Andrew Le Roux sent his congratulatory
note and expressed his excitement at the prospects of the alliance.
When UN Regional Coordinator Nathalie Ndongo was informed about the signing of
the agreement, she congratulated both parties as well.