The first Partnership Opportunity Delegation virtual was staged by Taiwan, the U.S. and Kingdom of Eswatini March 4 as part of efforts cultivating trilateral economic exchanges and investment cooperation in the African ally.
Organized by the embassies of Taiwan and the U.S., as well as Eswatini’s Ministry of Commerce, the event involved senior officials of all three sides and business representatives from sectors spanning digital economy, energy, food processing, and information and communication technology.
Participants included ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador Jeremy H. S. Liang, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Moyer, U.S. State Department’s Managing Director for Global Partnerships Thomas Debass and Eswatini Commerce Minister Manqoba Khumalo.
Liang, during his opening remarks, said the virtual is expected to play an important role in supporting Eswatini’s post-pandemic economic bounceback.
Taiwan is Eswatini’s closest ally and a vital development partner, with almost 30 Taiwan investors backing businesses providing 15,000 jobs mainly in the textiles sector, Liang said. The event will open the door to an array of mutually beneficial commercial endeavors benefitting the people, he added.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs described Taiwan as a leading democracy, a technology powerhouse and a reliable business partner. “We are glad that private sector representatives from the U.S., Taiwan, and Eswatini could convene to advance economic opportunity and build the ICT sector in southern Africa,” the bureau added.
In response, the MOFA tweeted, “Outstanding #Taiwan-#US-#Eswatini tie-up! We’re pleased to see Amb. Liang working with DCM Moyer & Commerce Minister Khumalo at the Partnership Opportunity Delegation event. The milestone in trilateral ties will spur the #BeautifulKingdom’s rise as an e-commerce hub in #Africa.”
The MOFA said the virtual, which springboards off the success of POD-modelled event in 2019, enables Taiwan to expand its presence in Africa while deepening friendship and expanding exchanges with the U.S. and Eswatini.
Taiwan and Eswatini established diplomatic relations in 1968.The countries have carried out numerous collaborative projects in such areas as agriculture, education, health care, ICT, rural electrification and women’s empowerment, according to the MOFA. (SFC-E)
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