Eswatini – His Majesty King Mswati III has officially passed on the chairmanship of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to the Kingdom of Lesotho, effective from July 15, 2023. The transition follows a series of productive SACU meetings held in Eswatini, culminating in the SACU Summit of Heads of States and Governments at the Mandvulo Grand Hall.
During the summit, His Majesty was commended for his exceptional leadership and guidance throughout his tenure as SACU Chair. The Right Honourable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane was congratulated on assuming the chairmanship of SACU, as he pledged to continue building on the achievements made during Eswatini’s term.
In his remarks, His Majesty King Mswati III expressed the importance of implementing the agreements reached during the summit, emphasizing that successful implementation would make SACU a success story. He also looked forward to Lesotho hosting the next summit, showing confidence in their ability to continue advancing SACU’s goals.
Lesotho’s Prime Minister, H.E. Sam Matekane, expressed gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III for his facilitation and excellent leadership during Eswatini’s tenure as the SACU Chair. He acknowledged the milestones reached and committed to diligently carrying the baton to maintain the momentum of these achievements and implement the Strategic Plan.
Minister Neal Rijkenberg, the outgoing Chairperson of SACU Council of Ministers, delivered the summit communique, highlighting the significant global developments that have impacted the economies of SACU Member States. These include the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in disruptions to supply chains, food and energy market instability, and a cautious global economic outlook for 2023.
The summit emphasized the importance of continued collaboration among SACU Member States to address the economic challenges arising from these global developments. The Council’s progress in implementing the SACU Strategic Plan, approved in June 2022 and endorsed by the summit, was commended.
Regarding industrialization, the summit recognized the prioritization of projects in the areas of meat and meat products, leather and leather products, fruits and vegetables, textiles, and pharmaceuticals. Member States agreed to focus on ready-to-implement projects that can yield immediate benefits.
The summit also addressed the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2025 and called for its extension to benefit the current beneficiary countries.
The summit expressed appreciation for the exceptional leadership and guidance of His Majesty King Mswati III during his term as the Chair of SACU.
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