The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, has urged entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development partners to turn dialogue into decisive action to unlock the full potential of Eswatini’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking during the MSME Conference 2025 at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini, Khumalo described the gathering as a “high-impact platform” that should produce practical and measurable solutions rather than mere deliberations.
“This conference is not a talk shop,” he emphasized. “It is a space for honest reflection, bold ideas, and practical solutions, an opportunity to forge new partnerships and build a more enabling environment for every entrepreneur who dares to create, innovate, and invest in Eswatini.”
The Minister highlighted the central role MSMEs play in driving the economy, describing them as “the heartbeat of our national economy.” He noted that MSMEs empower women, uplift the youth, create jobs, and fuel the innovation that underpins economic diversification.
He, however, acknowledged that MSMEs continue to face structural barriers such as limited access to finance, regulatory bottlenecks, and market entry challenges, issues that the conference was designed to address.
The Minister also touched on the notorious issue of delayed payments. He called on the MSMEs to freely engage and suggest possible solutions that could solve this long-overdue problem. He emphasized that the platform provided at the conference should bear real and tangible relief to the hardships faced by MSMEs, as they fuel the growth of the economy.
Over the three-day event, participants are expected to deliberate on key topics including access to finance, digital transformation, market expansion, certification and standards, sustainable business practices, and entrepreneurship skills development.
Khumalo commended ongoing partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), which have supported significant policy reforms. “Together, we have reviewed the National MSME Policy, strengthened standards and certification systems, expanded entrepreneurship initiatives, and promoted digital integration,” he said.
He noted that these reforms lay a strong foundation for the next phase of MSME growth, one that demands deeper collaboration and commitment from all sectors.
“This conference represents our collective responsibility to turn policies into impact, and ideas into action,” Khumalo concluded.