The Kingdom
of Swaziland (one of the oldest monarchy on the continent) is located
in Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Total
area: 17,363 sq. km (land: 17,203 sq. km water: 160 sq. km)
Background:
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the
late 19th century; independence was granted 1968. Student and labor unrest during
the 1990s pressured the monarchy to grudgingly allow political reform and greater
democracy -
Constitution: none; constitution
of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated
13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people .
Swaziland is a landlocked country, which economy is closely linked to South-Africa:
four-fifths of its imports and three-fourths of its exports. Remittances
from Swazi workers in South Africa's mines supplement domestically earned income
by as much as 20%. It imports about 60% of its electricity from South Africa.
Eighty percent of the populations earn its living from agriculture.
But currently the agriculture is a subsistence one.
Swaziland
needs an integrated strategic rural development scheme:
1-
To ripe to the full the potential of the country' s agriculture 2-
To increase agriculture's contribution to the national GDP 3- To establish
a strong agribusiness sector.
The development of a powerful agribusiness sector will counterbalance the decline
of mining industry due either to international factors (health concern for asbestos
usage in construction) or just to the depletion of existing mines (iron ore)
Systematic industrial transformation of agriculture raw materials to produce
more added value consumers goods will highly contribute to the increasing of the
industry sector output / export to neighboring countries: South
Africa and Mozambique.
The government is trying to improve the legal framework for foreign investment.
Year 2001 had seen the start of the millennium projects for a new convention center,
additional hotels, an amusement park, a new airport, and stepped-up road building
and factory construction plans. In year 2002, Swaziland had been listed for
the benefit of the US African Growth
and Opportunity Act initiative - AGOA .
However, the future of Swaziland
may be socially clouded and therefore economically hampered by the high rate of
HIV /AIDS infestation plaguing the population. According
to a report released May 19, 2004 life expectancy will drop to 40 years in
2010. The population growth rate has already declined from 2.02% (2000) to 0.83%
(2003 est.)
Click
here for news and events on Southern Africa Click
herefor an integrated strategic development scheme for an African country. Click here to review a "Community
Income Building Power Scheme" .
GNP: :
US$ 1.36 billion (2000); 1.4 billion (2001);
1.44 billion (2002); 1.458
(2003) GNP-
growth rate: 3.1% (1999)
2.4% (2000); 2.5% (2001);
1.6% (2002); 2.5% (2003)
GNP-per capita:
US$ 1,236 (2000) US$
1,256 (2003) Click
here for the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power
GNP-composition
by sector
agriculture:
17%
industry:
44%
services:
39%
Exports:
US$ 881 million
(2000); 820 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) Commodities:
commodities: soft
drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned
fruit Exports - partners:South
Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique
3.7%, US 3.5%, UK (2002)
Imports:
US$ 928 million
(2000); 938 million f.o.b. (2002) Commodities:
motor vehicles,
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals Imports - partners:South
Africa 88.8%, EU 5.6%, Japan 0.6%, Singapore 0.4%
A passport, valid for at least 6 months after intended period of stay is necessary
for all visitors. Visas are not generally required for tourists and businessmen
traveling to Swaziland for short visits (less than 90 days) on standard U.S. passports.
Contact the nearest Embassy / consulate or diplomatic representation
of the Kingdom of Swaziland for the latest information.
Canada
High Commission Kingdom of Swaziland
130 Albert Street, Suite 1204, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Tel:
+(1) 613 5671480 Fax: +(1) 613 5671058
E-mail: Click
here
USA
Embassy Kingdom of Swaziland
3400 International Drive, Suite M3, NW, Washington, DC 20008 Tel:
+(1) 202 362 6683 Fax: +(1) 202 2448059
England
Kingdom of Swaziland High Commission 20
Buckingham Gate London SW1E 6LB Tel: +(44)
171 6306611 Fax: +(44) 171 6306564
Ministry
of Broadcasting, Information and Tourism
PO Box 338, Mbabane Swaziland Tel: +(268)
40 42761 Fax: +(268) 40 46953.
AIR-LINKING
/ TRANSSHIPPING
South
Africa Airways had daily connections from South Africa's cities to Mbabane the
Capital-City.
INVESTOR
CONTACTS
Chamber
of Commerce Emafini
Business Centre Malagwane Hill Mbabane Tel:
+(268) 40 44408 Fax: +(268) 40 45442 E-mail:
Click here Website
URL: Click
here
Swaziland
Industrial Development Co
P.O. Box 866 Mbabane H100 Swaziland Tel::
+(268) 40 43391 Fax: +(268) 40 45619
ACCOMMODATION
There are few good hotels in Swaziland equipped and services on international
standards, especially in and around Mbabane. It is recommended to book well in
advance. In addition there are also some game parks with basic accommodation,
campsites and smaller motels throughout the country.
For more information
on accommodation in Swaziland, contact the Hotel and Tourism Association of
Swaziland below listed
Matenga
Hotel PO Box 68
Ezulwini Swaziland Tel: (+268) 416
1049 or 416 2168 Fax: (+268) 416 2516 Email:
Click here
Esiyabayeni
Lodge & Conference Centre
P.O.Box 1451 Manzini Swaziland Tel:
+(268) 60 51650 Fax: +(268) 50 56861 E-mail:
Click here
Hotel
and Tourism Association of Swaziland
Oribi Court Allister Miller Street Mbabane. Swaziland Tel:
+(268) 40 42218 Fax: +(268) 40 44516.
Mountain
Inn Hotel P.O.
Box 223 Mbabane H100 Swaziland Tel:
+(268) 40 42781 Fax: +(268) 40 45393
- THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND - BRIEFS
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