I am delighted to be able to join my colleagues Presidents Chissano and
Mandela at this event to launch the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative.I bring with me the best wishes of Her Majesty The Indlovukazi, the Government and the whole Swazi nation to you all.
The Lubombo SDI is the project, first and foremost, of a need to bring employment to our people.
All of us in the region share the desire to continue to attract investment, both local and international, and
all of us understand the requirement to do all we can to encourage investors to remain confident in our economies.
As leaders, we agree that we owe it to our people to ensure that we retain investor-friendly policies, and
that we discourage actions that might have the reverse effect.
The Lubombo region, in particular, is in desperate need of an economic boost. This dream - of developing
the undoubted wealth of natural resources in the area - provides the answer. My colleague, His Excellency President Chissano, has spoken about the enormous potential for the people of the region to
end the despair of unempleyment, and of the unmatched opportunity for the interested investor.
I would like now to expand further on this vision and explain in greater detail the ways in which the
ordinary people - as well as the environment - of our countries will benefit from the strategy we have devised.
Entrepreneurs
As you have heard, we are appealing to the private sector to enter into a partnership with us to promote job creation and economic growth by taking advantage of the rich - and so far untapped - human
resources and great natural beauty of the Lubombo region.
Clearly, the success of such a partnership will depend to a great extent on the willing co-operation and
support of those to whom the Lubombo region is home. So we are making every effort to ensure that the strategy for economic growth and employment will promote the business skills and talents of the residents of the Lubombo region.
Clearly, the success of such a partnership will depend to a great extent on the willing co-operation and support of those to whom the Lubombo region is home. So we are making every effort to ensure that the
strategy for economic growth and employment will promote the business skills and talents of the residents of the Lubombo region.
One of our key aims is to bring in as active partners those who have been excluded from participating in the economy in the past.
We have worked out a number of ways to ensure this. Local business groups and communities will be
offered the chance of shares in new cultural and tourism enterprises. They will of course also have a share in the risk involved in investing for growth.
The Lubombo SDI has plans to stimulate small businesses around the key, central projects in agriculture and tourism. For example, there will be a policy to contract out economic activities to local small,
medium and micro enterprises wherever possible.
And further, concession terms will ensure that training will be given to these new entrepreneurs - to both
the individuals and groups - so that they will gain the skills to enter the mainstream of the Lubombo's regional economy.
Environment
Our Governments understand fully that the protection of the Lubombo's great natural beauty is a key to sustained investment and growth. We appreciate that the protection of the region's environment is
absolutely critical to the success of the initiative.
It is for this reason that our three Governments and the SDI have clear environmental guidelines for
investors, which will be included when investment opportunities are put out to tender.
We are putting in place a capacity-building programme to ensure that our Governments will be more
effective in regulating matters concerning the environment. Where necessary, we will conduct individual environmental impact assessments and the SDI is completing a preparation of an overall "Strategic
Environmental Management Framework".
This framework allows maximum participation by all parties and stake-holders, and considers the effect that commercial development could have on the environment.
Conclusion
I would like to finish by pointing the way way forward. This is not a "one-off" investment opportunity: we have prepared a structured approach to investment.
From here, the process includes an international "road show" by Ministers from our three countries, to encourage truly international participation in this unique venture. There will be a pre-qualification process
for investors and financial investors in July and a convention for investors and finacial instistutions in August at which formal tender documents will be issued.
We would like you to use this opportunity to become familiar with the projects we have identified in the SDI. and, as President chissano has asked, to investigate and present your own ideas for new projects.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you have seen the great natural beauty and rich potential of the Lubombo SDI and now have the opportunity to take advantage of this major investment initiative.
It is a season of peace and stability in our region. Together, with your partnership, we have the means to ensure that this season lasts for a very long time.
Thank-you and may God bless you all.
Speech for the launch of the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative, 1999