Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Senator Pholile Shakantu met with the European External Action Service’s Managing Director for Africa, Ms Patricia Llombart Cussac, on Friday, June 20, for discussions covering trade, digital development and the broader cooperation between the Kingdom and the European Union.
Ms Llombart Cussac was accompanied by the EU Ambassador to Eswatini, H.E. Mr Karsten Mecklenburg, for the engagements held in Mbabane.
Discussions between the two sides centred on the longstanding cooperation between the Kingdom and the EU, with both parties exploring ways to deepen the partnership in line with Eswatini’s national development priorities.
Ms Llombart Cussac also held separate meetings with Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo and Minister of Information, Communications and Technology Savannah Maziya.
On the trade front, the discussions looked at expanding Eswatini’s access to European markets under existing trade arrangements, attracting European investment into priority sectors and supporting the growth of local industry and small and medium enterprises through improved standards, quality infrastructure and export competitiveness. The various initiatives already being spearheaded by the EU inside the Kingdom were also part of those conversations.
The ICT meeting focused on strengthening digital infrastructure and connectivity, advancing e-governance and digital public services, and building cybersecurity capacity, areas that sit at the centre of Eswatini’s digital transformation agenda and align closely with the EU’s Global Gateway initiative.
