Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Sunday visited several Taiwan-funded projects in Eswatini, urging greater private Taiwanese investment in the African country. The visit, accompanied by senior Eswatini officials, marked the second day of Lai's trip to Eswatini and included a tour of the planned Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park (TIIP).
According to Focus Taiwan, the TIIP aims to assist Taiwanese businesses in global expansion, facilitate connections with African markets, and create local employment opportunities. Lai also received a briefing on a Strategic Oil Reserve project, intended to ensure a 60-day fuel reserve for Eswatini.
During the visits, Lai emphasized Taiwan's role as a reliable partner for Eswatini amid global changes, as noted in a Presidential Office press release. Eswatini is seen as a key diplomatic ally and gateway for Taiwanese businesses into Africa. Lai expressed hopes for increased private investment from Taiwanese companies in Eswatini to foster talent and deepen bilateral economic cooperation.
Taiwan aims to collaborate with Eswatini in exploring the broader African market to generate economic value, as mentioned in the press release. Lai later visited the newly opened International Convention Center, funded by Taiwan, which is slated for global events.
In his meeting with Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala, Lai expressed gratitude for the invitation from Eswatini, which he referred to as his "second home," according to the Presidential Office. Lai's visit follows a previously canceled trip due to revoked overflight permits, attributed by Lai's office to China's "economic coercion" of certain African states.
Though details on how Lai traveled to Eswatini were undisclosed, local media reported he flew on King Mswati III's private jet from Taipei. The aircraft had earlier brought the king's special envoy to Taiwan for a meeting with Lai.
Regarding U.S. involvement in facilitating Lai's trip, a State Department spokesperson described the visit as "routine" and advised against politicizing it, highlighting Taiwan's robust international partnerships, including with Eswatini.