By Ayanda Dlamini
Export development has been identified as a central pillar of Eswatini’s long-term economic strategy as the government intensifies efforts to drive industrialization, job creation, and inclusive growth.
The country has set an ambitious target to exceed E50 billion in exports by 2050, with trade and investment as key engines of sustained economic transformation.
This commitment was reaffirmed at the Eswatini–United Kingdom Business Forum, which underscored the two countries’ shared resolve to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties.
Government and private-sector leaders at the forum highlighted emerging opportunities for commercial partnerships, export expansion, and long-term investment cooperation.
During the keynote address, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, described the forum as an important milestone in the evolution of Eswatini–UK relations. He noted that the partnership has grown beyond traditional diplomacy to encompass tangible collaboration in trade, investment, education, and development.
The forum brought together Eswatini businesses and a United Kingdom delegation led by the British High Commissioner to Eswatini, His Excellency Colin Wells. The Minister said the strong UK representation was a clear vote of confidence in Eswatini’s economy and its potential as a competitive trade and investment destination.
“Today’s engagement is about translating our long-standing relationships into tangible outcomes—expanded trade flows, increased investment, and mutually beneficial partnerships that support sustainable economic growth,” the Minister said.
Trade partnerships in a challenging global environment
The forum took place amid an increasingly uncertain global trading environment, marked by geopolitical tensions, supply-chain disruptions, and shifting economic alliances.
In this context, the Minister emphasized the importance of strategic, rules-based trade partnerships, such as the Southern African Customs Union plus Mozambique (SACU+M) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the United Kingdom.
Under the EPA, Eswatini’s exports benefit from preferential, tariff-free access to the UK market, creating opportunities to expand exports, diversify markets, and strengthen domestic industrial capacity. The UK ranks among Eswatini’s top ten export destinations, and trade performance is supported by duty-free access for qualifying goods.
While export growth to the UK has been encouraging, the Minister acknowledged that trade remains concentrated among a small number of exporters and products.
He urged Eswatini businesses to diversify their products and markets and to take fuller advantage of the UK’s nearly 70 million consumers and strong demand for high-quality, sustainably produced goods. The Minister called for increased support to enable micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to participate meaningfully in international trade.
He encouraged the British High Commission and partner agencies to explore capacity-building programmes that would help Eswatini businesses meet UK market standards, improve competitiveness, and integrate into global value chains.
Eswatini positions itself as an investment destination
On the investment front, the Minister reaffirmed that Eswatini remains open for business, citing deliberate reforms aimed at improving the investment climate. Priority sectors include agro-processing, manufacturing, renewable energy, logistics, and services.
He highlighted Eswatini’s strong performance in the World Bank’s Business Ready Report 2025, where the country ranked 10th best-performing in Africa for business reforms, including business registration, regulatory efficiency, and investor facilitation.
A flagship reform is the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), which streamlines investor registration and significantly reduces the time and cost of establishing a business. The presence of UK agencies actively exploring investment opportunities was welcomed as a positive indicator of growing investor interest.
Turning dialogue into action
The Minister assured investors and traders of Government’s full support, noting that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, working with the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority, stands ready to provide facilitation, information, and aftercare services. He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue to implementation, calling for clear action plans and greater awareness of available opportunities among both Eswatini and UK business communities.
The forum concluded on an optimistic note, positioning Eswatini–UK economic relations as a strong platform for expanded trade, increased investment, and shared prosperity.