THE KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique and Swaziland governments want to revive the now dormant Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative (LSDI) to stimulate economic development in the region .
"It will also help us to share tourism ideas," KwaZulu-Natal tourism MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu said at the Umthayi first fruits cultural celebration in KwaNgwanase, northern KwaZulu-Natal, at the weekend.
The event was attended by Swazi tourism minister Macford Sibandze and officials from Mozambique.
LSDI was launched in 1999 as a trilateral initiative between Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland to develop the area bounded by the Lubombo Mountains into a globally competitive economic zone.
It was also aimed at ensuring sustainable employment and equity in access to economic opportunity in the region.
It targeted eastern Swaziland, southern Mozambique and north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal and brought dividends but had become inactive.
Describing the LSDI as dead, Sibandze said it had been a good initiative and should be revived.
"We need to make sure that we grow our tourism sector," he said.