LUBOMBO – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo says the Kingdom of Eswatini needs to position itself as “an export hub for manufacturing.” According to an official statement from Government’s social media, Minister Khumalo was speaking during a tour of a factory shell site in Gamula, in the Lubombo Region. The tour was conducted by Portfolio Committee Members from both Houses of Parliament on Friday.
FTM Garments is investing E100 million into the factory shell expansion project – where 560 people have are currently employed by FTM Garments. The structure will also include a clinic.
Minister Khumalo appreciated noted that “We will struggle to find a company that will set up a manufacturing factory here to supply Eswatini because our population is small. Hence the reason there is need to build these factory shells so that investors can be able to manufacture and export their products. This has many benefits for the country.”
“Ours as a country is to demonstrate that we are truthful when we say ‘Eswatini Is Open for Business’, by taking action and levelling the ground for investors. This factory is going to transform this area in a magnificent way. It is exciting for us as a Ministry because this aligns with the call for decentralisation by His Majesty King Mswati III. The overcrowding currently taking place in towns is no longer sustainable yet the investor appetite for Eswatini is extremely high,” added Minister Khumalo.
Meanwhile, the Minister also announced that Ndzevane and Mantambe were earmarked for the construction of factory shells in the not-so-distant future and investors to occupy these have already been secured.
