India – Swaziland Relations

India’s relations with Swaziland are close, friendly and cordial. The Indian Mission in Maputo, which is concurrently accredited to Swaziland, maintains regular contacts with the Swazi authorities. The Swazi King, Mswati III, met the Prime Minister of India during the India Africa Forum Summit in Addis Ababa in May 2011, the only contact at the highest level.

While there have been an exchange of Ministerial visits, the bulk of visits have been from the Swazi side to India, especially to attend the annual CII-EXIM Bank Africa Conclaves and for other multilateral events. From the Indian side, MoS for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation visited Swaziland on 13-14 July, 2015 as Special Envoy of PM to invite King Mswati III for the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) scheduled to be held in New Delhi in October 2015. Smt. Preneet Kaur, MOS for External Affairs had also visited Swaziland in May, 2011 to invite the Swazi King and Foreign Minister to attend the Second India-Africa Forum Summit the same month in Addis Ababa.

Lines of Credit: The Government of India has provided two Lines of Credit to Swaziland: (i) US$20 million for setting up Information Technology Park and (ii) US$37.9 million for an agriculture development and mechanization project. Both projects are presently under implementation.

Trade: As per DGCIS Kolkata figures, bilateral trade between Indian and Swaziland during 2014-15 amounted to US$61.97 million, registering a decline of 58% compared to 2013-14. However, India’s exports during 2014-15 increased to US$39.94 million compared to US$22.63 million in 2013-14, registering an increase of 76.49%. On the other hand, Swaziland’s exports to India declined sharply by 82.35% to US$ 22.03 in 2014-15 compared to US$124.84 in 2013-14. The main exports from India to Swaziland are pharmaceutical products, gold and precious metal jewellery, pearl/semiprecious stones, Industrial machinery, fertilizers, Shellac, Organic chemicals, Aluminum products and Electric machinery and equipments, while the main items of exports to India from Swaziland are Industrial Machinery, Gold, Residual Chemical, Medical and Scientific instruments, Pharmaceuticals, Organic chemicals, Electrical machinery, Electronics instruments, pearl/semiprecious stones.

Training and scholarships for Swazi nationals: India has been extending training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships for UG/PG/Doctoral studies to Swazi nationals every year. For 2015-16, 20 slots under the ITEC and 12 slots under the ICCR have been provided to Swaziland.

Indian community: The Indian community (NRI/PIO) in Swaziland consists of around 800 persons, including about 500 who have taken up Swazi nationality. Apart from some Indian nationals engaged in business, there are a few Indian experts working for the Government departments, hospitals etc. and a few professors teaching at the University of Swaziland.

Note:  Content for this article provided by IAFS.in

India – Swaziland Relations

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