Eswatini’s King Mswati Opens Zambia’s International Trade Fair

King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini opened the 57th Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) at the weekend, where he emphasised his desire for the two countries to strengthen their trade relations.

Eswatini’s leader acknowledged the current situation of a relatively low volume of trade between the two nations and urged for closer collaboration to bolster economic exchange. He said he viewed the ZITF as an opportunity to improve bilateral trade and create and maintain a favourable economic environment.

King Mswati noted that trade between the two countries had been growing at a modest rate of 4%, and he hoped his visit would contribute to the improvement of trade relations. He specifically called for partnerships in agriculture, tourism, defence, and security cooperation, and extended an invitation to Zambian companies to participate in Eswatini's upcoming international trade fair in September.

Furthermore, King Mswati commended Zambia for its recent success in negotiating debt relief, highlighting its significance for many African countries. He regarded the country as an example in this regard.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, President Hichilema described how the two leaders were united in calling for “improved quality of goods and services” in order to be “competitive and attract international markets”. The President viewed King Mswati III's presence at the ZITF as an opportunity to foster cooperation between the two southern African countries.

In a speech delivered at the ZITF, Hichilema emphasised the importance of maintaining peace as a foundation for achieving economic stability, promoting trade, and attracting investments.

He went on to call for trade partnerships that would present better opportunities for the people of both Zambia and Eswatini. He emphasized the potential of utilising the natural resources available in both countries to stimulate economic development.

At the ZITF, Hichilema expressed his hopes that the fair would grow into a year-round platform for creating wealth, rather than a one-day event.

The theme of the 2023 ZITF was “Stimulating Economic Development Through Partnerships, Trade, and Investment”. It is the first major trade development for Zambia since its successful negotiation of debt relief.

Photo: Hakainde Hichilema / Facebook