By BY King’s Office Correspondents
TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Republic of China (Taiwan) drone manufacturing company, Geosat Aerospace, and Technology Founder and Chairman Dr. Chang-Fang Lo, told His Majesty King Mswati III that they would like to bring their services and set up offices in the country. He said with the country’s authorities’ support they would be happy to set up a joint venture company that would train and develop Emaswati in the Unmanned Aerospace Vehicles (UAV), otherwise known as drones. UAV provides various applications, including land exploration, disaster relief, resource exploration, environmental monitoring, meteorological detection, logistics delivery, and commercial photography.
Dr. Lo said they were willing to offer technology transfer by opening a school in the Kingdom through the Royal Science and Technology Park and further use the country as a window to reach out to the entire continent.
The chairman made the presentation to His Majesty the King and his delegation comprising ICT Minister Princess Sikhanyiso, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Thulisile Dladla, Commerce Industry, and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo, Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg, UNESWA Vice Chancellor Prof. Justice Thwala, Royal Science and Technology Park CEO Vumile Dlamini, Chief Officer Mgwagwa Gamedze, to name but a few at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei yesterday afternoon.
He said their drone solutions have been used with great effect, not only in Taiwan but in Malaysia, where it has brought about efficiencies in agriculture especially, in pest control and general farming.
His Majesty the King has welcomed the offer by Geosat Aerospace chairman to look into joint ventures with Eswatini companies.
The King said he was very impressed not only with the presentation but the equipment that Geosat Aerospace produces.
“When we had lunch with the President (Tsai Ing-wen) she did mention to me that your company is very keen to invest in Eswatini hence our meeting today where you presented to us the products and services you provide,” the King said.
He said the country has the enabling environment to assist the company to quickly setting up and delivering the kind of business it wishes to venture into.
“Having set up a similar company in Malaysia, this would now make your work easier as you can tap into that experience in doing the same in the Kingdom as we no longer need to reinvent the wheel.
“As we are gathered here, you have all the people you need to assist and facilitate your coming to Eswatini. Before we leave on Tuesday, I hope you would have discussed the finer details of what you will require and what needs to be done to welcome you in Eswatini,” His Majesty the King said.
ICT Minister Princess Sikhanyiso welcomed the interest shown by Geoasat Aerospace, saying the country was already moving towards establishing a Space Agency working with the University of Eswatini.
“We are already thinking about launching our satellite to collect our data. Studies on meteorological detection can help towards addressing climate change concerns and we would be indeed grateful if the company can set up in Eswatini,’ she said.
RSTP CEO Vumile Dlamini echoed the ICT minister and said his organisation already has the systems in place to support the work of Geosat Aerospace by storing this huge data.
Dlamini said they are already working with UNESWA to improve its curriculum to cater for such innovation as they are introducing a school of avionics.
