…Minister Manqoba says more is coming
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has listed the jobs and sectors that resulted in 15 360 jobs being created.
This is contained in the post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan has resulted in the creation of 15 360 jobs and attracted investments valued at E11 billion. Since the post-COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan in August 2020, projects worth approximately E11 billion have been implemented, employing about 15 000 emaSwati.
The plan was launched by the late Prime Minister (PM), Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, with an expectation of projects that would inject a total of E29 billion into the economy, creating 38 744 jobs for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report presented by Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC) Senior Research Officer Mangaliso Mohammed, some of the projects that have employed the citizens are at the implementation stage, while some are already produced.
Projects that are at the implementation stage included Matsapha Lifestyle, which has an estimated number of employees standing at 500. One of the already completed projects is the Lavumisa Solar Project, which hired about 35 employees.
Gamula Factory in the Shiselweni Region is also among the projects at the implementation stage, with an approximate number of employees standing at 100
In the tourism sector, there are projects which include the Tree Tops Game Resort, which is also at the implementation stage, with about 80 employees.
The minister also noted that they were building a few other factories in places such as Mantambe, Bulandzeni, Ndzevane and others in the rural areas.
“We are looking forward to launching a property development project in Manzini, called the Manzini Arch and the total sum of that entire project will be in the region of E4 billion,” he said.
He added that there was about E 1 billion worth of energy projects between biomass, solar and hydro in the pipeline and these would soon be implemented. “Mine is to just thank His Majesty and the whole of government as well as the private sector in particular for staying true to the cause and fulfilling that commitment and see many other private sector companies reinvesting into this economy and new companies coming into Eswatini,” he said.
