Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MBABANE345
2008-11-10 03:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Mbabane
Cable title:  

SWAZILAND ECONOMIC REACTION TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

Tags:  ETRD ECON EFIN WZ 
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R 100321Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3312
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
UNCLAS MBABANE 000345 


DEPT FOR AF/S; AF/EPS; EB/IFD/OMA
USDOC FOR 4510/ITA/MAC/AME/OA/DIEMOND
USTR FOR COLEMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND ECONOMIC REACTION TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

UNCLAS MBABANE 000345


DEPT FOR AF/S; AF/EPS; EB/IFD/OMA
USDOC FOR 4510/ITA/MAC/AME/OA/DIEMOND
USTR FOR COLEMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND ECONOMIC REACTION TO THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS


1. SUMMARY. Swaziland, thus far, has been insulated from the global
banking crisis. Other parts of the economy, however, such as the
textile industry, are beginning to feel the effects of the
international recession. END OF SUMMARY.

BANKING AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE


2. Local companies attribute the banking insulation to the Central
Bank of Swaziland's (CBS) strict adoption of some of the Basel
Guidelines in regulating financial institutions' credit risk.
Swaziland's banking industry is closely linked to South African
banks. Three of the country's five banks are subsidiaries of South
African banks, one is owned by the Swaziland Government, and one is
privately owned. The Swazi Lilangeni currency is at par with the
rand, and some companies are affected by the rand's depreciation
against the dollar and other international currencies.

TEXTILE AND APPAREL COMPANIES


3. On October 8, a local newspaper reported that Swaziland Textile
Exporters Association Chairman John Neng Fan said that, due to the
global financial crisis, the number of orders from the U.S. has
dropped, negating the usual benefit the industry enjoys when the
lilangeni depreciates against the dollar. Swaziland exports ninety
percent of its garments to the U.S. under the African Growth and
Opportunity Act.


4. The textile industry is a major employer in Swaziland, which has
a 40 percent unemployment rate. The industry employs approximately
17,000 persons at salaries slightly above minimum wage, mainly women
who are the sole source of income for their families.

THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR


5. At present, the Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA),which exports
sugar, and Swazican, which produces canned fruit, juices and jams
for export, primarily to South Africa, the European Union and U.S.,
have not been negatively impacted by the global financial crisis.
SSA CEO Dr. Mike Matsebula attributed this to the Central Bank's
strong regulation. The Swazican Managing Director said the weak rand
worked to their advantage as exporters, but they are also importers,
and that is when they feel the crunch. He also said the company has
not been directly affected, but implied concern about.

INFLATION


6. The Central Bank is monitoring the situation, but is worried
about the effects of escalating inflation on consumers and the
country's overall economic growth. "The rising inflation complicates
risk assessments and can further compromise capital inflows," the
Bank said. Swaziland's inflation rate for August 2008 was 14.71
percent, according to the IMF, but the Central Bank left its
discount rate unchanged at 11.5 percent.


7. Stofeni Ginindza, Managing Director of African Alliance, an
investment banking company, stated he was worried that private
equity funds from international banks could be recalled.

TRANSPORTATION


8. Although the increase in fuel prices hit the transportation
(road and rail) industry very hard, the prevailing global financial
crisis has not directly impacted Swaziland's transportation
industry. There is fear, however, that the textile industry's loss
of orders will have a spill-over effect into the transportation
industry.

PARKER