Taipei – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo participated in a closed-door roundtable meeting and celebration ceremony marking the 30th Anniversary of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) in the Republic of China (Taiwan).
The discussions focused on the evolving global development cooperation landscape, which is undergoing significant restructuring. Participants examined the impact of shrinking Official Development Assistance (ODA) resources, alongside the geopolitical and economic shifts that continue to reshape the priorities of major development partners.
Khumalo served as a panelist during the roundtable, where he shared Eswatini’s experience in leveraging development finance through the Kingdom’s longstanding partnership with the ICDF. He spoke on the tangible benefits of the collaboration and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships that promote sustainable economic growth and resilience.
The Minister later participated in a joint media interview before delegates adopted and signed the Joint Statement on “Investing in Resilience and Prosperity: Digital Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” reaffirming their shared commitment to harnessing digital innovation to advance sustainable development and inclusive prosperity.
The ICDF has been a key development partner for Eswatini, with the Kingdom maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan since 1968, making it Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally on the African continent.
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