The Eswatini Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EYA) 2025 winner, DJD Investments, has earned regional recognition after, receiving an award at the ICONIC Africa Summit held in Zimbabwe.
The award, secured with the support of the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), highlights the growing potential of Eswatini’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete beyond the country’s borders.
Speaking during the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA) 2026 launch, DJD founder Duncan Dlamini, said the recognition was both affirming and motivating for the business.
“We are proud to mention that, through the support of SEDCO, DJD received an award at the ICONIC Africa Summit in Zimbabwe. This recognition beyond our borders encouraged us greatly, because it showed us that the work we are doing in Eswatini can be appreciated at regional level,” he said.
Founded in 2017, DJD operates within the agri-processing sector, specialising in pig production and meat processing. The business began on a small scale with just 20 female pigs and one boar but has since grown into a notable enterprise within the Mpaka and Siteki economic zone.
Dlamini noted that the regional recognition has expanded the company’s outlook, reinforcing its ambition to compete not only locally but across the continent.
The ICONIC Africa Summit brings together entrepreneurs and industry leaders from across Africa, providing a platform to showcase innovation, share knowledge, and recognise excellence in enterprise development. For DJD, participation at this level reflects both its resilience and the effectiveness of the support structures available to SMEs in Eswatini.
Dlamini credited SEDCO for playing a pivotal role in opening doors for the business.
“We thank SEDCO for opening such doors for SMEs and for continuing to support entrepreneurs as they grow from local businesses into businesses with regional and international potential,” he said.
Beyond regional recognition, DJD has also benefited from capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening its competitiveness. Through the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), the company received training on international market access, while the Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) provided training on ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems.
These interventions are positioning the business to meet higher production standards and pursue its long-term goal of exporting locally produced meat.
Dlamini emphasised that the company’s journey reflects the broader realities of entrepreneurship, characterised by both challenges and growth.
“Our story is a testimony that entrepreneurship is not only about success. It is also about resilience, learning from failure, accepting support, and continuing to move forward,” he said.