Region
Swaziland

Sector
Development Finance

Summary:

The Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA) was created in 1998, and works to promote and facilitate foreign direct and local investment into Swaziland by providing a one-stop information and support facility to investors.

Contact
Zizwe Vilane

Email
vilanez@sipa.org.sz

Tel
+268 404 0470

The Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA) was created through an Act of Parliament in 1998, and is wholly funded by the Government of Swaziland, with initial assistance from the European Union.

SIPA's Mission is to: "Promote and facilitate foreign direct and local investment in Swaziland, with the objective of creating the wealth necessary to enhance the Social and Economic Development of the Kingdom and its people."

In order to streamline SIPA's operations, the agency was split into three departments:

• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
• Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)
• Investor Facilitation and Aftercare Services (IFS).

The SIPA objectives are:

• to attract, encourage, facilitate and promote local and foreign investment in Swaziland;
• to initiate, coordinate and facilitate the implementation of government policies and strategies on investment;
• to provide a one-stop information and support facility to local and foreign investors; and
• to advise the Minister on investment policies, strategies, proposals and suitable incentives for investors.

Investment Promotion (FDI)

In order to promote the creation of employment opportunities, SIPA promotes Swaziland as an "Investment Location of Choice" to Investment Markets abroad such as Asia, South Africa, Europe, USA, Latin America and the UK.

In this process, investment opportunities in Swaziland are presented to companies in seminars/groups or to individual companies on "one-on-one" basis based on direct targeting of companies.

Investor Facilitation and Aftercare Service

The Investor facilitation service has the objective of providing a one-stop service facility for investment information and support to local and foreign direct investors who decide to establish business in Swaziland.

Information provided covers basic cost factors, availability and costs of utilities, labour and transport costs. In addition, information is provided on business registration and licensing, work and residence permits, factory shells and available factory sites.

Within the Investor Aftercare Programme, the Department visits and assists established businesses on difficulties they may be experiencing so as to try and retain such investors in the country.

Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMEs)

This department has the responsibility of developing local entrepreneurs and encouraging them into participating in investment projects, particularly the primary business sectors as opposed to the retail sector.

It also assists local entrepreneurs with their plans for expansions, and forming linkages with foreign direct investors either in joint-ventures or in sub-supply functions. The department conducts business seminars across the country in an effort to raise awareness and help budding business groups organise themselves.

For more information  about the various investment opportunities currently on offer in Swaziland contact the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority:
Name: Zizwe Vilane, Director: Foreign Direct Investments
Email: vilanez@sipa.org.sz
Tel: +268 404 0470