INT’L BRANDS SUPPORT SD

SIPA Director of FDI Zizwe Vilane says Swaziland is a safe haven for investment as it offers, free and open economy.
He said Swaziland did not have problems with an investor’s 100% ownership of investment. He added that Joint Ventures and Partnerships possibilities were explored vigorously with the help of government and private sector.
Vilane said investors need not worry about issues of their money because there was guaranteed repatriation of profits, dividends, payments etc.
“Swaziland thrives in its non-discriminatory treatment of FDI. And the creation of such institutions as SIPA was a clear commitment towards attracting Foreign Direct Investments.”
 Vilane said other attributes were good quality road and rail infrastructure to maximise on strategic location to markets and ports in South Africa, Mozambique and beyond.
 He said tourism had great potential for growth. He pointed out that Swaziland’s strategic location gave visitors the opportunity to visit three countries within a three hour radius.  The Big  Five and beautiful mountainous landscapes in a tranquil environment. He said tourism was a high growth area with a new airport under construction and a convention centre being planned, and several other projects under implementation.
Comparative advantage in agriculture and related industries:
 The country is currently host to a number of international companies in areas like fruit canning, sugar production, concentrate manufacturing, sweet production and ethanol production to name a few. Looking at investment in processing of vegetables, fruits etc.
•Excellent base for labour intensive Manufacturing: Non-militant and educated labour force available for various industry needs.

Testimonials:
  “Swaziland has offered us a safe, stable & predictable investment climate for over 30 years. a dedicated & respectful labour force, good road & rail infrastructure & immediate access to regional markets have kept us here”
Andrew Taylor, Managing Director, YKK Southern Africa
  “We have expanded our investment in swaziland to include the halls range that we are exporting from our swazi base to the sub-saharan region. we have enjoyed 20 years doing business in the kingdom and  our facility is growing bigger all the time”
Sandile Simelane, Managing Director, Cadbury SD
Our fruit processing facility in swaziland produces the highest quality food products for global supermarket brands in the uk, europe, australia and the usa.  “This is in part, thanks to the all round climate, beautiful soils, abundant water and above all, a supportive government, where we have our own farms and lease some from the government. for rfg it would be very difficult to export competitively from southern africa except from swaziland where we further benefit from duty free access into the europe and the us markets.

Bruce Henderson, Rhodes Foods Group, Stellenbosch, SA
 SD’S AREAS OF GROWTH:  Agribusiness (e.g. Food processing, confectionery etc)  tourism & international Services   manufacturing & assembly (e.g white goods, pharma)   infrastructure (e.g. toll gates, hotels, convention centre, science park)  mining energy .