Bilateral relations with Swaziland
Bilateral relations with Germany have traditionally been good and amicable. There is cooperation in combating poverty, in promoting industry, trade and investment in Swaziland and not least in cultural exchange and promoting development in the area of sport.
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Women in colorful traditional dresses
(© Women in colorful traditional dresses)
Scholarship programmes, micro-measures in development cooperation, close cooperation in the cultural and sports sectors and humanitarian aid projects are important features of bilateral relations. Trade with Germany is modest and is mostly conducted through South Africa.
There are regular contacts at government and civil-society level, providing a platform for an exchange of views on bilateral relations, Swaziland’s development, global issues and other topics of mutual interest.
Development cooperation has long been a cornerstone of bilateral relations. Development cooperation with Swaziland encompassed the following sectors: agriculture, power generation and distribution, rehabilitation of the Matsapha business park near Manzini, rural health care and technical and industrial training. From 1968 to 2000, a total of 112.5 million Euro was made available (Financial Cooperation: 59.8 million Euro; Technical Cooperation: 32.2 million Euro; churches, foundations, private sponsors: 9.7 million Euro; scholarships: 3.1 million Euro; food aid, other: 7.7 million Euro).
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Since 2000, development cooperation with Swaziland has been gradually phased out, one reason being that Swaziland is classed as a ‘middle-income country’ according to World Bank figures. Even today, Germany remains one of the largest donors as the principal contributor to the European Union budget and its development cooperation with Swaziland.
In November 2006, a government delegation from Swaziland headed by Prime Minister Themba Dlamini was in Germany for political talks. King Mswati III last paid an official visit to Germany in April 2000, travelling to several federal states in an effort to attract German investment. In spring 2007, King Mswati III paid a private visit to Germany.
