E220m investment talks follow King’s Turkmenistan visit

Adekunle OwolabiMay 30, 20261 Mins read18

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Home Affairs HRH Princess Lindiwe meet with executives from Ayolyn Gijeler to discuss a proposed investment of more than E220 million in ICT, transport and immigration solutions in Eswatini. | Photo: Eswatini Government

A high-level Eswatini delegation held talks this week with executives from Ayolyn Gijeler, a government and private sector-backed enterprise that has expressed interest in investing more than E220 million in ICT, transport and immigration-related solutions in the Kingdom.

The meeting was led by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Home Affairs HRH Princess Lindiwe.

The investment interest follows His Majesty King Mswati III’s visit to Turkmenistan early last year and his subsequent meeting with President Serdar Berdimuhamedow on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Minister Khumalo welcomed the company’s interest, pointing to Eswatini’s strategic position as a gateway for expanding operations across the African continent and beyond.

The company’s executives had already visited Eswatini last month and are expected to return in early June for further engagements aimed at advancing the proposed investment initiatives.

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Adekunle Owolabi

Adekunle Owolabi is a journalist, political analyst, and digital strategist with experience across Africa and the Middle East. He focuses on international diplomacy, promotes digital inclusion, and advocates for a borderless Africa.