By Nontokozo Gwebu and Sizwe Dlamini
The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, has urged more companies to support the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
The Minister disclosed this during the announcement of a sponsorship of E100,000 by the Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) for this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
This sponsorship represents a 50% increase from ENPF, as in 2024, the company provided a E50,000 sponsorship.
During the event, Khumalo commended the increased support, stating that it aligns with His Majesty the King’s call to uplift grassroots entrepreneurs.
“We applaud such initiatives by the ENPF, but we need other companies to come on board and support the competition because this initiative helps entrepreneurs who, in turn, participate in the economy, enriching the kingdom in the process.”
Worth noting is that sponsorship for this year’s event currently stands at over E1.8 million and is backed by FNB Eswatini as the headline sponsor. Swaziland Building Society (SBS), the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund, DATAMATICS Eswatini, Infinity Links, Fincorp, and Taiwan International Corporation and Development Fund (IDCF) are also some of this year’s sponsors.
Khumalo also took the opportunity to introduce the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act, aimed at ensuring local entrepreneurs prosper in all sectors.
“This Act is designed to help small businesses not only survive but thrive in the local economy,” he said.
The Minister also announced that the Ministry is working on an upcoming MSME Indaba, to be hosted by the Small Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO).
The aforementioned Indaba will take place after the inaugural Eswatini Investment Conference and will focus on advancing entrepreneurs to the next level of economic participation.
Also speaking during the sponsorship announcement on behalf of ENPF CEO Futhi Tembe, the General Manager of Operations at ENPF, Miccah Nkabinde, noted that as an organization, they are determined to help small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive in the kingdom.
“This contribution demonstrates our unwavering support as ENPF for the prestigious EYA, which helps our local entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, empowering MSMEs that are the engines of employment and the economic future of the kingdom.”
Nkabinde added that the sponsorship aligns with the government’s vision of inclusive economic growth.
Meanwhile, Khethiwe Mhlanga, CEO of SEDCO, expressed gratitude to ENPF for their consistent support and trust in SEDCO’s mandate to uplift entrepreneurs across all regions.
“We appreciate all the support we receive from ENPF, and we agree with the Minister in requesting other companies and organizations in the kingdom to also add their sponsorship to the Entrepreneur of the Year awards, which we at SEDCO are proud to be custodians of.