By Phiwa Sikhondze
The Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) has announced that the third Eswatini Exporter Awards 2023 will take place on 14 December 2023.
The awards aim to honour the outstanding performance and noteworthy efforts of local exporters in overcoming market entry barriers and achieving successful and consistent trade.
According to a press release issued by EIPA, the awards will cover exports traded between April 2022 and March 2023. The export activity being awarded refers to all products exported from Eswatini to any market across the world.
The awards comprise of nine categories, namely:
- Best Global Exporter
- Best Exporter – SACU
- Best Exporter – AfCFTA
- Best Exporter – AGOA
- Best Exporter – EU
- Best Exporter – ASIA
- Best Newcomer
- Top Female Exporter
- Top Youth Exporter (18-35 years)
The winners of the awards in Eswatini will also compete against other exporters from the SADC region in a regional competition that will be held early next year.
Bongani Ntshangase, the External Trade Manager at EIPA highlighted the key role that export trade plays in the country’s economic development. As a result, he said that the efforts by the Eswatini exporters should not go unnoticed.
“Export Trade forms a key part of Eswatini’s economic performance every year. In striving for economic growth, we cannot ignore the markets beyond our borders and the products that we can offer which are well produced by local companies and in demand in these markets. The effort local companies put into getting their goods and services to markets outside of Eswatini cannot be ignored as a result,” he said.
“The road to becoming an exporter can be challenging, yet it is a necessary step that many have taken and succeeded at. In awarding those who have already taken the lead and started exporting, we are shining a light on the excellence that is being demonstrated in our country and using it to motivate others to join in and see how they can also sell their products in a new market. The world as we know it is changing rapidly and requires us to look beyond our usual ways of doing business,” he added.
According to the statement, local businesses based in Eswatini are invited to enter the awards and nominate themselves or nominate another business before the deadline of 30 November 2023. The participating companies must be privately owned and ultimately held by either a citizen or resident of Eswatini.
Eligibility applies to all exports in all business sectors. Awards entries are to be submitted according to the entry information requested on the nomination form which can be accessed through the email: trade@sipa.org.sz.