Agoa holds the key to Swaziland’s future

JAMES HALL
MBABANE - The view of Swaziland’s transport operators about an improved business environment is as cautious as the slight rise in the growth of the small kingdom’s gross domestic product this past year: 2%, up from 1.7% the year before.
Landlocked Swaziland depends on road transport, and to a lesser extent rail and air transport, for its survival. South Africa remains the key economic lifeline, importing 65% of Swaziland’s agricultural and industrial production, and sending back 80% of the country’s imported goods and services.
“If South Africa sneezes, Swaziland catches pneumonia. We are totally dependent on South Africa,” said Alan Ingham of Interfreight.
The fate of the industrial sector hinges on Swaziland’s continued involvement in the US trade scheme Agoa. Asian-owned garment manufacturers, who came to Swaziland to take advantage of the duty and quota free access the country’s exports are given in the American market through the trade treaty, await the approval of new rules to ensure continuing participation. Transport operators who bring in raw materials and haul out finished goods are also keenly following developments.
If the manufacturing sector continues to grow, an improving road infrastructure is in place to service transport needs. The 35 year-old Matsapha Industrial Estate outside the central commercial town Manzini remains the primary manufacturing complex, but a new highway connects Mbabane with the southern Shiselweni region, where a new industrial estate is growing.
To the east, the planned R1,7 billion Sikhupe airport may be controversial, but its construction continues, and with it prospects of large cargo planes coming to the kingdom for the first time. The current airport at Matsapha cannot accommodate aircraft larger than small jets.
The drought that brought widespread food shortages this year did not bring famine, due in part to the ability of transport operators to bring emergency food aid to areas in need.