Swaziland: The calling of africa

Aired January 2008

Welcome to Swaziland, the calling of Africa.

Steeped in fables and mystical allegory, the Kingdom of Swaziland is a charismatic land, which beckons the adventurous, the daring and the enterprising.

A landlocked country embedded between South Africa and Mozambique, Swaziland is one of the smallest nations in Southern Africa. Swaziland is virtually homogenous, with most of the population from the same tribe. As a society the Swazis have retained their cultural identity despite growing western influence.

Traditionally most of the high-level economic activity was in the hands of non-Africans, but ethnic Swazis are becoming more active and are becoming the driving force of this emerging African nation.

Forget about the often stereotypical view of ailing economies in Africa. The economic situation in Swaziland has been steadily improving.

FINANCE

Swaziland has several banks taking deposits and giving loans. Four of them are major ones, out of which three are from South Africa.

As a premier investment location, Swaziland boasts a readily available industry infrastructure. Another major appeal of the nation is its human factor.

While logistically small in physical size and landlocked, Swaziland has well-developed road links with South Africa.
The country also enjoys direct air links with major airports in southern African region, which facilitate the movement of passengers as well as freight.

Not only logistics but also infrastructure is a big corporate draw to this tiny African nation. Competitively priced utilities such as water, electricity, telephone and postal services are readily available.

The country has a long established free enterprise economy, political and economic stability. Swaziland is now home to over fifty FDI companies, mainly from the U.S., the U.K. and Japan.

Local businesses from all kinds of sectors are eager to cooperate with foreign companies. One example is the Swazi Observer, a leading newspaper in Swaziland that was established some 25 years ago.

The assets of Swaziland are numerous. It is a country for investors with a taste for new opportunities, who are looking for a place that is off the beaten track.

ENTERPRISE

If Swaziland is to meet the challenges it faces in increasing the prosperity of the Swazi Nation then there needs to be increased entrepreneurial activity.

To reach this goal, the country has to become more attractive to businesses. And this is precisely what the government intends to achieve.

The government wants to create an environment favorable to enterprise. It tries to increase the flow of funds to small and medium enterprises and make small business support more widely.

The quality of products created from Swaziland’s ancient skills and traditions has drawn the attention of strategic commercial buyers both locally and globally. The government intends to support the export of these valuable products by setting up retail outlets in foreign markets. This will improve the living standard for the craft producers and their families.

AGRICULTURE

The economy in Swaziland is essentially agriculture based with over 70 percent of the population making a living from farming. This sector is also a major export earner and a contributor to the GDP.

Self-sufficiency in basic foodstuff production continues to be a national objective and this is encouraged and pursued by government with a focus on conservation and development of water and soil resources.

The land is increasingly being put to use for the purposes of subsisting farmers. The livestock sub-sector is also becoming more commercial, encouraged by established producers and the government.

Access to irrigation for this industry is limited, although the Ministry of Agriculture is getting heavily involved in developing water resources for small scale irrigation. The challenge for the future of agricultural development is diversification. Therefore the government is considering the introduction of new crops, in close cooperation with the local farming communities.

TOURISM

Swaziland is the best and exceptional example of a country living in the old African traditions and beliefs. History and cultural traditions have been carefully taken into the 21st century.

The Kingdom provides travelers the ideal gateway between Kwazulu-Natal and the Kruger National Park, as well as Johannesburg and Maputo.

No better route is available with added advantage of discovering a whole new country filled with bygone African traditions and culture.

The largest game reserve in the Kingdom is Hlane National Royal Park, which covers 30,000 hectares. Hlane accommodates mostly lion, elephant, rhino and the leopard among a catalog of the world’s most striking creatures. No matter where your travels and enterprise take you within the kingdom of Swaziland, you will meet the courtesy, friendliness and genuine desire to help share in the calling of Africa.

Swaziland also hosts a large number of internationally renowned hotels and a number of lodges where visitors can relax, unwind and bask in the best of Africa.