By 
By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Kingdom of Eswatini has once again placed itself firmly within the global economic dialogue as Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr. Thambo Gina delivered key interventions during the 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, currently underway in Washington, D.C., United States of America.
Accompanying Dr. Gina at the high-level gatherings is Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, along with senior government officials representing the Kingdom in what is widely regarded as one of the most influential forums in global finance and development.
This year’s Spring Meetings are being held under the theme “Jobs – The Path to Prosperity,” a focus that aligns with global and domestic efforts to stimulate inclusive economic growth by creating quality employment, particularly in the wake of mounting global pressures such as rising debt levels, geopolitical tensions, climate stress, and post-pandemic recovery challenges.
The 2025 theme was said to reflect the shared urgency among global leaders to craft economic frameworks that deliver not just growth but equity especially for the most vulnerable populations.
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Dr. Gina, representing Eswatini’s economic planning portfolio, participated in sessions that examined strategies for sustainable job creation and structural transformation.
In his remarks, he emphasized Eswatini’s commitment to pursuing policies that place job creation at the centre of its development agenda, noting that the country continues to invest in youth empowerment, skills development, and enterprise creation as part of its national recovery strategy.
The Spring Meetings, which run concurrently with the IMF and World Bank Boards of Governors sessions, have drawn finance ministers, central bank governors, and development partners from over 180 countries.
Discussions this year are particularly focused on how countries can strike a balance between stimulating job growth and maintaining fiscal and debt sustainability amid tightening global monetary conditions.
Minister Rijkenberg participated in sessions dedicated to debt management and private sector mobilisation, areas where Eswatini continues to seek balanced reform. The Minister engaged with international financial institutions on the role of capital investment, public-private partnerships, and fiscal consolidation in building resilient economies that can weather shocks and still deliver growth dividends.
The meetings have also provided Eswatini an opportunity to interface directly with development partners and multilateral lenders on the country’s own fiscal strategies, including its approach to structural reform, labour market policies, and economic diversification.
Eswatini’s delegation has taken part in targeted sessions on harnessing technology for employment, climate-smart investment planning, and improving social safety nets to protect vulnerable groups amid economic transition.
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The 2025 Spring Meetings are being held at a time when global growth projections remain uneven. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook, released on the eve of the meetings, revised global growth to 3.1%, warning of sluggish momentum in emerging markets and stagnation in advanced economies.
Inflationary pressures, tighter credit conditions, and high debt burdens continue to place significant constraints on many developing countries and issues that are high on the agenda for African delegations
