Economy

MBABANE - Business Eswatini (BE) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin (CCIB) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The virtual signing ceremony marks a pivotal commitment to foster trade, investment, and mutual prosperity between the two nations, a vision driven by the steadfast belief and efforts of the BE leadership.

The event, hosted from the BE War Room by the BE Secretariat led by Chief Executive Officer, Nathi Dlamini connected virtually with the delegation from Benin.

The CCIB was represented by its president and the secretary general, alongside several collaborators. Adding a distinguished diplomatic presence to the occasion was the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Benin to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Pierre Bidé, who attended in person.

The MoU establishes a formal framework for cooperation, paving the way for developing robust trade and investment relations between Eswatini and Benin. The ceremony was underscored by a shared vision to prioritise intra-African cooperation and continental trade, in line with the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Bidé highlighted the occasion as an ‘important milestone’ for cooperation in various fields. He provided insight into Benin’s dynamic economy, noting it as ‘one of the strongest growing economies in Africa’, and emphasised the existing foundation for stronger ties, including Benin’s no-visa requirement for all African nationals since 2019.

The pivotal role of the Business Eswatini CEO was central to the narrative of the ceremony. Addressing the attendees, the CEO reflected on the long journey to this moment, underscored by his visionary foresight – as narrated by Bidé, in championing a partnership between two nations with little shared history or prior trade relations.

“This is a partnership that has been a long way in the making,” the BE CEO stated. “When we first considered this collaboration, we saw two countries from opposite ends of the continent—West and South—with seemingly little in common. But it was precisely for that reason that we believed this partnership mattered most.

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Business Eswatini CEO Nathi Dlamini (R) signing the MoU along with Honorary Consul of the Republic of Benin to the Kingdom of Eswatini Pierre Bidé. (Pic: Courtesy)