Business Eswatini (BE) has appointed Violet Buluma as the new State Business Relations (SBR) Expert to lead the operationalization of the SBR Framework, a move aimed at strengthening collaboration between government and the private sector to accelerate economic reform and investment in the country.
Buluma brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in fostering public-private dialogue, making her the ideal candidate to bridge the gap between policymakers and the business community. She has been tasked with driving structured public-private dialogue and translating policy discussions into practical outcomes that address business constraints and enhance national competitiveness.
According to BE, the appointment represents a major step in advancing Eswatini’s economic transformation agenda through stronger cooperation between the state and the private sector.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Buluma to the Business Eswatini team. Her appointment marks a pivotal moment, transforming our vision for structured state-business relations into an operational reality,” said CEO E. Nathi Dlamini.
Dlamini said the private sector is ready to work closely with government to unlock investment opportunities, remove policy barriers and support job creation.
“The government has clearly articulated its ambition for economic transformation, and the private sector is eager to be the driving force behind it. With Ms. Buluma’s leadership, we are confident that the SBR will become the primary vehicle for co-creating solutions that unlock investment, remove policy barriers, and generate the jobs our nation needs,” he said.
The SBR Framework is designed to provide a structured and consistent platform for dialogue between government and the business community, enabling stakeholders to address policy bottlenecks, improve the business environment and strengthen Eswatini’s investment climate.
The framework’s strategic value was highlighted at the 2026 Cabinet Retreat. Under the theme ‘Transforming Eswatini Through Effective Execution,’ the Cabinet identified the mechanism as foundational to accelerating economic reforms and sharpening national competitiveness.
Government also reaffirmed its commitment to deeper private sector collaboration during the presentation of the 2026/27 National Budget, which emphasised the need to build stronger institutions, stimulate private sector growth and implement reforms aimed at improving the country’s investment climate and job creation.
BE said the SBR platform aligns closely with national development priorities outlined in the Speech from the Throne, which emphasized investment promotion, private sector expansion and employment creation as central pillars of Eswatini’s development agenda.
With extensive experience in fostering public-private dialogue, Buluma is expected to play a central role in bridging the gap between policymakers and the business community, while ensuring that the SBR platform delivers practical solutions to challenges affecting businesses.
BE noted that significant groundwork had already been completed to establish the framework and that the appointment of a dedicated expert signals the start of a more proactive phase of engagement between the private sector and government.
The organisation believes that structured collaboration through the SBR will help unlock new investment opportunities, remove regulatory barriers and strengthen Eswatini’s position as a competitive destination for business.