Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698084323684.pdf (Swaziland)
PARLIAMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI PRESS CONFERENCE BRIEF THE 10TH RETREAT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SENATES, SHOORA AND EQUIVALENT COUNCILS OF AFRICA AND THE ARAB WORLD (ASSECAA) BY: SENATE PRESIDENT – PS.
LINDIWE DLAMINI (SEN.) 21ST APRIL, 2023 PARLIAMENT CONFERENCE ROOM 1 INTRODUCTION May I on behalf of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Senate in particular, express my warm gratitude to His Majesty King Mswati III for always prioritizing the interest of the country and EmaSwati and for his wise leadership.

We pray for LONG LIFE, GOOD HEALTH and more WISDOM for His Majesty, as we recently celebrated His birthday – LUNWELE LOLUDZE WENA WAPHAKATHI.
I am pleased to announce that His Majesty the Ingwenyama has endorsed the hosting of the 10th Retreat of the Association of Senates, Shoora and Equivalent Councils of Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA) by the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini will be hosting the ASSECA Retreat from the 11th -14th May, 2023.

The venue for this high-level and international parliamentary gathering will be at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre.
Our esteemed delegates will be accommodated in the various hotels in the Kingdom.

BACKGROUND ASSECAA is an Association that was established in the Republic of Yemen at a Conference held on 25th -27th April 2004.

This forum has a registered membership of 22 Parliaments from 22 Member States.
Registered Member States include, the Kingdom of Morocco; Kingdom of Arab Emirates; Kingdom of Jordan; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Kingdom of Bahrain; Egypt; Algeria; Burundi; Yemen; Zimbabwe; Nigeria; The Republic South Africa; Rwanda; Kenya and the Kingdom of Lesotho to name but a few.

May I add that it also attracts a significant number of observers from non- member Parliaments and Organisations.
ASSECAA OBJECTIVES • To encourage, support and strengthen parliamentary bicameral systems in and outside the Africa and Arab Regions.

2 • To regularly organize meetings and dialogues among senates, SHOORA and equivalent councils in the member states and to undertake joint actions to advance cooperation and exchange expertise.

• To coordinate the efforts of senates and equivalent councils in regional and international conferences and organizations.
• To contribute in the parliamentary activities of Arab, African and international unions and effectively participate in the dialogues originating from them.

• To deliberate upon issues of common interest within national and international spheres and to make appropriate recommendation and adopt practical resolutions concerning them.

• To resolutely engage in efforts to deepen awareness of democratic values and concepts.
• To engage in the encouragement and protection of the role of civil society organizations and human rights.

• Above all, the association seeks to constitute a formidable bridge of cooperation for Africa and the Arab World to enable the region to harness its potentials to benefit from the world-wide conscious trend towards conglomeration and regionalization.

THEMES UNDER ANALYSIS DURING THIS 10TH RETREAT Delegates will, amongst other matters consider and discuss the following Themes: Theme: 1.
“The Significance of Green Economy in Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa and the Arab World” Under this theme, the delegates will have presentations and discussions on how Parliaments can collaborate to: • promote the debate as well as Afro-Arab dialogue and consultation on strategic and priority issues in the African and Arab regions, and to shed light on the 3 significance of Green Economy in achieving sustainable development in Africa and the Arab World.
• establish economic, parliamentary diplomacy that will explore the ways and means of enhancing Afro-Arab economic cooperation in line with a strategic, participatory, integrated and developmental perspective based on strengthening economic, commercial and humanitarian ties between Africa and the Arab world.

• The meeting will also enable mutual knowledge and experience exchange among parliamentarians through the presentation of good practices related to their countries' transition towards Green Economy.
Theme 2: “The Impact of the Multifaceted International Crises on the Economies of Africa and the Arab World” • Over the past three years, the world has experienced negative economic shocks, primarily the spread of the Corona pandemic.

The world has made strenuous efforts to overcome the resulting economic difficulties, bearing heavy costs, most notably the huge rise in public and private debts, the increase in inflation rates, the high costs of energy, minerals and food, and supply chain disruptions.
• As the world came out of the crisis tunnel, the Russian-Ukrainian war began, which re-mixed global economic conditions, strained international relations, raised levels of uncertainty, deepened the crisis in energy, food, mineral and fertilizer prices and raised concerns about their supplies.

The conflict is still a major blow to the global economy.
• As a result of these successive crises, price increases for food commodities have been the largest since 2008, and container shipping rates worldwide have increased by about ten times, with a significant increase in the levels of internal freight, while the increase in energy prices over the past two years has been the largest since the 1973 oil crisis.
The entire global economy feel the effects of 4 slower growth and faster inflation and these crisis added additional risks to the course of the global economy, and stimulated some of the dilemmas experienced by many global economies Theme 2 Objectives In an effort to undertake the functions and objectives of the Association of Senates & Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA), the Retreat will discuss interventions on how to: • Promote the debate as well as Afro-Arab dialogue and consultation on strategic and priority issues in the African and Arab regions, and to shed light on the repercussions caused by the crises the world is going through and their consequences so far on 6 the economies of countries, supply chains, energy and food prices, and provide a perception of the proposed solutions.
• Establish economic, parliamentary diplomacy that will explore the ways and means of enhancing Afro-Arab economic cooperation in line with a strategic, participatory, integrated and developmental perspective based on joint action to overcome the crises the world is going through and mitigate their effects in the Arab and African regions.
• The meeting will also enable mutual knowledge and experience exchange among parliamentarians through the presentation of good practices and lessons learned in order to address and mitigate the economic impacts of these crises on the economies of African and Arab countries, and • Build the capacities of parliamentarians by exchanging knowledge and learning about various international experiences in dealing with economic crises and challenges, especially during crises, epidemics, and wars.
Benefits of hosting ASSECAA • It will boost the country’s economy 5 • It will Present an opportunity to showcase the Kingdom with the potential of attracting investors We have partnered with other Ministries, such as, the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Trade (EIPA) as well as the Ministry of Tourism to package business and tourism investment opportunities respectively.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will be engaged for areas relevant to their portfolios.

The Parliament of Eswatini was tasked with formulating presentation topics and the preferred topics are priority in the global stage and, this alone, will reflect on the kingdom’s priorities.
This Retreat will attract international observers, hence the need for partnership with the United Nations Family which will be a validation of the Country’s commitment to global initiatives.

We plan to provide our usual hospitality to your guests.

During these meetings we have planned to showcase our culture, business opportunities and our tourism industry.

We will also arrange a tour of the most unique places in the country which will be packaged by the relevant ministry.
We will also engage with the countries security forces to ensure that his majesty’s guests enjoy the peace and tranquility of the kingdom in its entirety.

CONCLUSION We trust that EmaSwati, will once again demonstrate their love for the country and partner with His Majesty King Mswati III and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Eswatini to make this retreat a great success.
“The Success of this event will leave an indelible mark about the Kingdom of Eswatini that the delegates will go back with” I THANK YOU 6