By BY King’s Office Correspondents
ABU DHABI, UAE – His Majesty King Mswati III on Wednesday evening witnessed the signing of a historic partnership between the Government and United Arab Emirates’ biggest investment company, Emirates Management Investment Gate Holding (EMI Gate). The signing ceremony between Commerce Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo and EMI Gate Holding President and CEO Fatima Al Kaabi was held at the company’s head office in Addax Towers, Jazeerat Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi.
His Majesty the King was accompanied by Inkhosikati Make LaMashwama, Information Communication and Technology Minister Princess Sikhanyiso, Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg, and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Thulisile Dladla.
EMI Game Holdings CEO and President Al Kaabi and the company’s advisor Emrah Tunca told His Majesty the King that they are interested in investing in the country’s E60 billion six major projects announced by Commerce Industry and Trade Minister Khumalo. Their declaration came on the day when Acting Natural Resources and Energy Minister Jabulani Mabuza revealed the outcome of the Geoscience Mapping results which revealed the country’s huge deposits in Platinum, Copper, diamond, Nikkel, and anthracite coal to name but a few.
EMI Gate Holdings told the King that they will be coming to Eswatini with the view to explore more on what they can do in mining, including investing in the areas of ICTs, cyber security, energy, agri-business, and tourism.
Tunca told the King that all the multi-billion Emalangeni projects can be handled by their company easily with their experience and operation.
“We are ready to make some contribution in the Kingdom, especially in mining, especially coal which is very important for us as we buy over 15 million tonnes per year. Of that, we source about five to six million tonnes from South Africa or Southern Africa,” he said.
Tunca further revealed that they source other resources for their vast industries in countries like Brazil, Mauritania, and Italy which amounts to 100 million tonnes.
He told the King that the construction industry is their backbone for hundreds of years and they have no issues looking forward with excitement on what they can do for the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Tunca said they are ready to bring investors, and professional companies to come along to also see the areas they would invest in.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and EMI Gate Holding sets out the framework for cooperation and scope, which they were happy to sign emphasizing the promotion of economic and technical cooperation in investment and trade.
They both undertook to take steps to promote the following priority areas; trade and investment; mining and beneficiation; agriculture and agri-processing; infrastructure cooperation and development; health-related issues; aviation and tourism.
The parties agreed to firm up this agreement by setting up a Working Group which will follow up on the commitments to be co-chaired by the two parties.
Also making presentations before the EMI Gate Holding were ICT Minister Princess Sikhanyiso and Finance Minister Rijkenberg who complimented the presentation made by Minister Khumalo.
About EMI Gate Holding:
E M I Gate Holding is a national company that aims to contribute to achieving self-sufficiency for the UAE and the region in the fields of Tourism Investment, Health, Trade, Media, Tourism Real Estate Development, Hospitality, Facilities Management, and Security.
They market the United Arab Emirates to the world through their Head office based in Abu Dhabi to become “Leading the world in sustainable Tourism”.
