Strategic Development Board Member for WorldSkills International Mr. San-Quei Lin was in the Kingdom of Eswatini to promote WorldSkills competition and the participation of the Kingdom of Eswatini in regional and international skills competition. The visit of Mr. San-Quei Lin was made possible through the help of the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) in the Republic of China Taiwan. Mr. Lin was accompanied by Mr. Chia- Ching Chou, an Executive Assistant for WorldSkills Capacity Building Centre within the Government of the republic of Taiwan’s Ministry of Labour.

On June 19, 2023; Mr. Lin and Chou had a courtesy visit at the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM)’s Office early in the morning where they met his Excellency the Honourable Themba Masuku to brief him about their mission in the country. The DPM gave them a warm welcome and assured them that the country will indeed join the skills competition. The delegation proceeded to the Directorate of Industrial and Vocational Training (DIVT) for a morning briefing and exchange of opinions.

The delegation at DIVT was joined by the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Mr. Makhosini Mndawe, Acting Chief Tertiary Inspector Ms Thembekile Dlamini, Chief of Taiwan Technical Mission Mr. Chang-Ching Yeh, Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT) Principal Ms Nomcebo Nhlengetfwa, ECOT Senior Management and the Technical and Vocational Skills Certification Project staff. The delegation proceeded to Eswatini College of Technology to do site visit at the workshops. The workshops visited are the kitchens at the Hospitality and Tourism Department and the Mechanical department.

Mr. Lin explained that the skills competition is suited young people between 18 years and 22 years. Some of the areas for the skills competitions include spray painting, cooking, welding, electrical installations, fashion and design, bricklaying, bakery, carpentry, joinery, refrigeration and air-conditioning etc. The PS Mr. Mndawe assured the delegation that his ministry will do everything required to see to it that young Emaswati participate in the skills competition and he further assured the delegation that ECOT is well positioned to sharpen the youth in most skills covered in the competition.

The delegation also visited Gwamile VOCTIM to for site visit at the Electrical Department, Mechanical Department and the Automotive Repair Department. The site visits were concluded in the afternoon at Manzini Industrial Training Centre (MITC). The WDA is very passionate about the participation of the Kingdom of Eswatini in Skills Competition and had arranged for a one-week training in for two lecturers in Taiwan; one from the Automotive department lecturer at Gwamile VOCTIM and another from the Fashion and Design department at the National Handicraft Training Centre. The two lecturers will be flying to Taiwan early next month in July and will be accompanied by the DIVT Director. The purpose of the one-week training is to expose them to skills competitions and equip them so they can help the country realize its aspirations for the skills competitions.