MBABANE – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has this evening met with Nigeria Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Mariam Yalwaji Katagum. According to an official statement from the Government, “The Nigerian Minister and her delegation are in the country on a working visit in a bid to strengthen economic collaboration in the sugar industry”
“Among other things, they discussed the existing partnership between Nigeria and the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation, which began in 1977”, reveals the statement.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister Khumalo said, “This partnership has yielded great results for the country in terms of employment generation. It has also played a key role in economic growth and trade with the massive downstream industries that have been established.”
Minister Khumalo added that, “Our Trade with Nigeria for the past three and a half years stands at about US$300 million in terms of Total Exports with Concentrates, Sugar and Gum being our three top export products and for the Total Imports our trade stands at US$177 000 during the same period with vaccines being the major import product, particularly for the year 2021.”
Minister Khumalo also revealed that the sugar industry is a strategic solution partner in our energy mix, where they are already contributing in the production of biomass and ethanol. We invite the Republic of Nigeria to continue participating in our growth of this sector as we develop it.
Minister Katagum also noted that, “The coming on stream of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) has reinforced the need for all African countries to effectively and seamlessly strengthen our collaboration. In that regard, Nigeria and Eswatini need to explore the possibilities of escalating our partnership in the Sugar industry and other sectors, beyond investments.”
