Investor's Guide To Eswatini

11 AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY/SECTORS T 'he Kingdom of Eswatini has a hive of investment opportunities and it is constantly positioning itself to be one of the preferred industrial and manufacturing hubs in the region. As a free and open economy, investors can invest in various sectors of the economy as guided by the National Investment Policy. However, the country is focusing on the areas listed below. Eswatini's economy is fairly diversified, with agriculture and manufacturing contributing significantly to the country's GDP accounting for about 8.2% and 40%, respectively. The country has a comparative advantage in these sectors, which are further anchored by the necessary support infrastructure. • • • • . • Manufacturing: The country imports a lot of its manufactured products, mainly Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FCMGS). Agriculture and Agribusiness: The cultivation of high-value cash crops and agro-processing, e.g. wheat, rice, cassava and other medicinal crops. Energy: The country imports about 80% of its power, therefore there is the opportunity to develop thermal and renewable energy plants. Biotechnology: Biocosmetics, bio-fertiliser, animal vaccine, and biomedical products. Mining: Diamonds, coal, gold, zinc from former asbestos mines, and iron ore. Light engineering and assembly: Including electronics, selected auto-parts and light machinery. Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation: High-value investments in hotels, casinos and other recreational facilities. Property Development: Commercial property development, industrial buildings and warehouses. • Life Sciences: Pharmaceuticals and specialised healthcare. • • ICT: Call centres, computer software and hardware, and ICT components assembly. Aviation Services and Training: Opportunities exist for aircraft services for regional connection flights linking to international connecting destinations like the Middle East and Eastern Africa. Manufacturing, and Value Addition (Processing) Manufacturing is one of the major sectors in the economy, contributing about 40% to the GDP and is the second largest employer after the agriculture sector. Main products include food and beverages, textiles, zippers and apparel, timber, engineering and metal products, plastics and chemicals as well as refrigerators. Seamless investment opportunities exist for processing, high-end fashion textile goods, food processing, downstream value added sugar products, confectionary, mineral beneficiation, etc. "Air Liquide, being the world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and health, started its business in the Kingdom of Eswatini in 2008, with the establishment of Swazi Gases, a liquid carbon dioxide recovery plant, producing liquid products of the highest purity. Our product is consumed in-country as well as exported and has turned into a vital product source to, amongst others, the beverage industry across Southern Africa. Swazi Gases is currently branching out, furthering our affiliations with significant additional investments in the kingdom. We are certainly looking forward to what the future may hold for the Kingdom of Eswatini" - Louise Roux Managing Director, Swazi Gases (Pty) Ltd T/A Air Liquide, (Headquarters in Paris, France) - Agribusiness and Processing Agribusiness has traditionally been the backbone of Eswatini's economy. The sector employs a significant proportion of the labour force. Investment in agriculture has wide opportunities, including joint ventures for expanding cultivation of high-value cash crops such as cotton, citrus fruit, fruit and baby vegetables, bananas, garlic and ginger. Agro-processing opportunities exist in vegetable production, the manufacture of candy, forest products processing, medicinal and skin care products. In terms of livestock, with abundant supplies from local farmers, opportunities exist for processing meat into various meat derivatives and the introduction of new food products. Areas of potential investment exist within the following areas: Baby Vegetables: Eswatini has an agricultural marketing agency which supports farmers growing a variety of vegetables for export but also the local market. Farmers in Eswatini are slowly penetrating this business opportunity, but there is a need for a constant raw material supply of baby vegetables. Vegetable and Fruit Drying: Most vegetables and fruits consumed in the country are fresh; hence they are seasonal in nature. Opportunities exist for much greater exports and local consumption of dried fruits and vegetables. Investor's Guide To Eswatini 39

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