INVESTOR ROAD MAP UNIT
Vision
To see Swaziland ranking number 50 or better in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index by 2022. To continue benchmarking against best performers.
Mission
To create a conducive environment for business to thrive by eliminating impediments, bureaucratic red tape and procedures by cutting the time it takes and the costs involved in doing business.
Functions
- Identify and investigate bottlenecks
- Audit legislative and procedural bottlenecks
- Drawing implementation programme-targets matrix
- Amend legislative, processes, procedures and develop IT solutions
- Track improvements in the country’s ranking with regards to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index and Global Competiveness Index
- Liaise with implementing agencies on the IRM programme
- Track implementation of empowerment of domestic investors through improved access to finance and skill development
Overview
In the financial year 2018/19, the Special Economic Zones Act of 2018 was passed into law and commenced. A Special Economic Zones Committee was appointed to scrutinise applications from investor seeking to operate within the special economic zone parks. The Investor Roadmap Unit undertook a benchmarking study in the Republic of China on Taiwan to explore best practise in improving ease of doing business in six target areas namely: enforcing contracts, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property and protecting minority investors in Eswatini. The IRMU also attended the Ease of Doing Business Initiative in Abidjan hosted by the Republic of Ivory Coast in collaboration with the World Bank in November 2018, where African countries meet to share experiences on best approaches in doing business. The delegation from Eswatini met the Head of Doing Business Team from Washington to discuss ways in which Eswatini can be assisted to improve reporting about the reforms undertaken and verification mechanisms that will be implemented to ensure that assessment are done using current data and information. In January 2019, IRMU with the assistance from the World Bank and International Finance Corporation hosted the first workshop with respondents to the World Bank Doing Business survey which was officially opened by His Excellency the Right Honourable Prime Minister. Respondents are contributing to ease of doing business questions relating to the Mbabane - Manzini corridor service delivery.
The Special Economic Zones Act of 2018
The Special Economic Zones Act of 2018 was enacted into law and commenced in July 2018 where a Special Economic Zones stipulated by the Act was appointed. The committee whose responsibility is to receive and scrutinize applications by investors seeking to operate within the zones and recommend to the Minister for Commerce who shall approve applications in consultation within Cabinet.