SUPPORT BUSINESSES CREATING JOBS – ECONOMISTS

EZULWINI – Prioritising support to businesses creating jobs in these challenging times was one of the calls made during a seminar yesterday.

Economics Association of Eswatini (ECAS) brought together key stakeholders and captains of the industry together at the Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) head office in Ezulwini to deliberate on the appropriate trajectory for the Kingdom of Eswatini post COVID-19. The event was themed, ‘policy dialogue on Eswatini’s Socio-economic Development Post-COVID-19.

businesses

In his presentation entitled, ‘Policy Brief for Post-CoVID-19’, ECAS President, Professor Mike Matsebula made a call to support businesses creating jobs as one of the responses. 

There were also calls for debts freeze distressed companies, especially bank loans and contributions to the Eswatini National Provident Fund. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, who is United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, on the other hand, stressed on the need for transformative domestic reforms to promote resilience, particularly in the areas of revenue mobilisation, digitalisation, trade integration, competition, transparency and governance and climate-change mitigation.

“The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the world to the necessity for businesses to participate in regional value-chains that are closer to home, in addition to global value chains.

“The crisis has also highlighted the role that technology, innovation and digitalisation can play in helping countries, businesses and citizens address the impacts of unexpected shocks as part of coping strategies,” she said.

officials

The economists, senior government officials, private sector, civil society and development partners, deliberated on the key documents that Eswatini has produced to enable its socio-economic recovery. These include: The National Development Plan and Strategic Roadmap; the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan: the United Nations Socio-economic Assessment of COVID-19 in Eswatini. Emphasis was also on investing in agriculture for recovery.

“Everything we do during and after this crisis, must be with a strong focus on building more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of pandemics, climate change and the many other global challenges we face,” said Ndongo-Seh.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo was expected to address the gathering later on yesterday 

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