Mbabane – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Senator Pholile Shakantu, on Friday held bilateral talks with Italian Ambassador to Eswatini, His Excellency Gabriele Annis, where she thanked the Ambassador for the completion and handover of projects funded by the Italian government valued at over E109 million.
Senator Shakantu noted that Eswatini and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in climate change, environmental management and energy development in 2017, with the MOU renewed in 2025.
Under this framework, two projects have been completed. The first is the Greening of the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, which now runs on approximately 98 percent solar PV energy. The second is the Strengthening of Early Warning Systems and Climate Services at the Meteorological and Water Affairs Departments. 
Both projects were handed over to the respective beneficiaries on Friday, 3 July 2026.
The handover event was attended by the Right Honourable Prime Minister, represented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Honourable Thuli Dladla, the Italian Ambassador to Eswatini, His Excellency Gabriele Annis, the Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Honourable Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, Cabinet Ministers, the UNDP Representative, senior government officials and RFM Hospital management.
The projects, funded by the Italian government and implemented with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reflect close collaboration among the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, and the Ministry of Health.
Eswatini and Italy relations continue to be sustained through multilateral channels in Rome, where Italy hosts the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
