Taiwan willing to sign free trade agreement with SD
The Swazi Observer | 27 February 2007
Taiwan willing to sign free trade agreement with SD
By Timothy Simelane
TAIWANESE Ambassador Leonard Chao has pledged his country’s willingness to sign a free trade agreement with Swaziland.
The pledge comes just days after Finance Minister Majozi Sithole said Swaziland was looking for such a partner in an effort to boost the country’s trade orientation programme.
Chao broke the news at the University of Swaziland when his embassy donated E15 000 to 22 Swazi students who excelled in their first year courses at the institution.
The occasion was two-fold, as there was also a public lecture by the ambassador on the story behind the Taiwan-Swazis Awards.
It was during this lecture that Ambassador Chao said Swaziland needed to improve its trade orientation. He also said Taiwan was willing to sign a Free Trade Agreement with Swaziland in which both countries would benefit largely.
Over the past years, Taiwan has had such an agreement with super power states. It is such agreements that have elevated Taiwan into the industrial powerhouse of the world.
When he delivered his budget speech last Thursday, Minister Sithole said Swaziland was looking for a state to sign a trade agreement with.
“Under consideration for 2007 are negotiations between SACU and an African country or group of countries. There will soon be studies commissioned by SACU to identify the country or group of countries that can be strategic for a Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations with China and India for a preferential trade area are also scheduled to begin in 2007,” the minister stated.
Meanwhile, Chao also said Swaziland could take leaf from Taiwan which developed its industry from scraps after it was devastated by war in the mid 90s.
He said its exclusion from the United Nations was expected to result in the eradication of the country from the face of the earth. “But to date, we are surviving,” he said.
Chao said Swaziland also needed to develop its small and medium enterprise (SME) scope to uplift the economy.
On another note, the ambassador presented the sponsorship dubbed Taiwan-Swazi Friendship Awards as part of his government’s initiative to encourage hard working students and efforts to put emphasis in education.
He encouraged the students to work hard and continue to excel in the following years. “I am impressed with the enthusiasm shown by the recipients of the awards,” he said.
UNISWA Pro Vice Chancellor Victor Mthethwa said the purpose of the awards was to publicly commend the students for their hard work and dedication to studies.
“This is in line with UNISWA’s strategies to provide leadership through excellence,” he said.
One of the recipients of the awards, Lindiwe Mhlungu who is pursuing B.Ed in Secondary Education, showered accolades on the ambassador and said the awards would encourage them to work even harder.
“It is gestures such as these that motivate us to thrive for excellence,” she said.
