Framework for US assistance in Southern Africa; country resource paper : Swaziland

This report is a profile of Swaziland and includes a general background discussion of the physical features, population, culture, education, and politics. The economic overview discusses the structure of production, investment and savings, employment, income, prices, balance of payments, the government economic plan, problems and prospects in the economy and similar issues. The sector analyses include agriculture, mining, transportation, energy, health, education, population, manufacturing, forestry, and tourism. Swaziland"s agriculture-based economy is diversified and expanding rapidly. The mining and forestry sectors are sizeable and manufacturing and tourism sectors are growing. There is a wide variety of topographical and temperature zones which permit the raising of many diverse crops. Mineral wealth has aided the process of economic development by attracting foreign capital, by improving the physical infrastructure of the country, and by spawning subsidiary industries. Swaziland enjoys a favorable balance of trade. Tourism has become the most dynamic sector of the economy since 1968 when a complex of hotels and motels were built in the picturesque Ezulweni Valley. Total earnings from tourism are estimated at around $6 million. A Tourism Development Authority was established to promote tourism and strengthen the basis for sustained development.