By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:George Wachira,the United Nations(UN)Eswatini Resident Coordinator has applauded Commerce,Industry and Trade Minister Mancoba Khumalo for the progress made by eSwatini,in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) agreement.

The UN Eswatini Resident Coordinator shared these sentiments at the Royal Villas-Ezulwini on Thursday during a meeting with His Excellency Wamkele Mene, the visiting Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA).

“Firstly,on behalf of the UN,I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade and the Kingdom of Eswatini for the continued progress in the AfCFTA journey including the development of Eswatini’s National Implementation Strategy and joining the Guided Trade Initiative(GTI).We wish you more success and pledge our continued accompaniment.Secondly,a warm welcome to Your excellency Mr. Mene to the Kingdom of Eswatini,and congratulations on your recent re-appointment as the SG of AfCFTA. In our current global reality,inter-Africa trade, and the investments that it must spur, presents the most viable pathway to a brave new continent,and we are glad that you are at the helm of the initiative at this time”, he said.

The UN Eswatini Resident Coordinator then pledged full support for the Ministry of Commerce and the entire Government in general, in the journey to fully implement the AfCFTA agreement.

“We are glad that we have been engaged from the start of Eswatini’s AfCFTA journey up to the development of the National Implementation Plan, and will continue to lend support to the best of our abilities.We see the Eswatini’s engagement with the AfCFTA as key in lifting people out of poverty,creating jobs, spurring investments, and driving national transformation.Between where we are now,and the realisation of these important ideals, lies the hard work of engineering purposeful change through robust institutional arrangements, capacity-building at all levels, enhancing export readiness and competitiveness in regional markets, facilitating access to development finance especially for MSEs and women in trade initiatives, fostering innovation and efficiency,among others”, said the UN Eswatini Resident Coordinator.