Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan)

President Tsai visited an exhibition that showcased the achievements of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund's Capacity Building Project for Microfinance Ecosystem Focusing on Grassroots Women in Eswatini run by the Taiwan Technical Mission in Eswatini. Along with King Mswati III, the president also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on women's empowerment, which aims to show our commitment to helping women in rural areas gain economic independence. In addition, Taiwan's Overseas Investment Development Corporation signed a cooperation memorandum with the Eswatini National Petroleum Company to assist Eswatini in building a strategic oil reserve to better ensure Eswatini's energy security. The visit also resulted in expanded cooperation between the two countries at the local-government level as Taiwan's Kaohsiung City and Eswatini's capital Mbabane City signed a sister-city agreement which aims to strengthen exchanges on youth and education between the two cities to create a mutually beneficial situation.

In the five years since Taiwan launched the Africa Plan, it has opened new diplomatic missions in East and West Africa. Trade between Taiwan and Africa grew by nearly 70 percent, from US$4.65 billion in 2018 to US$7.81 billion in 2022. More than 100 parliamentarians and political figures from 11 countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Somaliland, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – welcomed President Tsai on her second visit to Africa through joint statements, letters, and social media posts. This shows that many African countries value Taiwan's liberal democracy and economic achievements, as well as the "Taiwan model." It also demonstrates that the Africa Plan is yielding concrete results. In addition, President Tsai took the opportunity during the celebration and state banquet on September 6 to meet and talk with the king of Lesotho, former presidents of South Africa and Botswana, and South African tribal leaders to establish friendships that will benefit future relations with these countries.

President Tsai attended a welcome banquet held by representatives of the overseas community in Southern Africa. She extended greetings to overseas compatriots from Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, and South Africa, and said she looked forward to continuing to hear their opinions on making the Africa Plan better meet their needs in the next stage. OCAC Minister Hsu announced at the banquet that the government had decided to dispatch an additional secretary to Nigeria to serve Taiwan's overseas community in West Africa, demonstrating the importance the government attaches to this group. The banquet once again united Taiwan's overseas community in Africa.