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Government has set an ambitious target to grow exports by over E50 billion by 2030.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini during the Eswatini National Exporters Awards 2025 held at the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre yesterday.
Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini delivers his speech at the Eswatini National Exporters Awards (ENEXA) held at the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre yesterday. [Pics: Eswatini Government Facebook Page]
He said exporting did not only aim at foreign exchange but also created jobs, drove business expansion, and positioned the country as a player in regional and overseas markets that were far larger than the domestic economy—assuring of a sustainable development pathway.
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Dlamini said exporters were not just entrepreneurs but the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) envoys and major contributors to Eswatini’s economic performance. For a land-locked country, he said a strategic focus on external markets was not optional but essential.
The PM noted that the global trade environment was increasingly uncertain, and Eswatini needed to adapt with resilience. He also noted that government continued to make diplomatic efforts to secure preferential access and market predictability for exporters.
“This event comes in the midst of the 57th Eswatini International Trade Fair, a platform that has already created exciting opportunities for our business community. As we look ahead to the celebration of 57 years of the Trade Fair on Saturday which will be graced by His Majesty King Mswati III, we are reminded of the central role exports play in the country’s long-term economic transformation,” he said.
Export-led growth strategy
Dlamini said this aligns with the goals of the 12th administration as outlined in the Grand Plan for National Transformation, which is in its final stakeholder engagement stage.
He explained that this long-term plan, along with short- to medium-development plans such as the Nkwe Programme for Action and the National Development Plan, places exports at the centre of the country’s inclusive exponential growth agenda.
Adding further, he said these plans chart a course towards transforming the country into a developed nation and being counted among upper- and middle-income countries by 2028.
He said they were a parameter of how far the country had come in driving an export-led, private-sector-driven growth strategy.
The PM also noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was a game-changer, and the country’s exporters needed to seize the opportunity to expand across Africa while also looking eastward to new markets in Asia, including Japan and Taiwan, to reduce over-reliance on a single partner.
He congratulated all the award-winners for their resilience, innovation, and contribution. He further urged scaling new heights in exports and mentoring aspiring small and medium enterprises (SMEs) entering the export sector.
Ministry support
Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said the awards celebrated men and women who worked hard and were determined.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo making his remarks at the event.[Pics: Eswatini Government Facebook Page]
He noted that exporting was not only about trade but also about creating jobs and building a resilient economy.
Khumalo applauded the Eswatini Investment and Promotion Authority (EIPA) and their strategic partners for ensuring the event’s success.
“We are a small economy, we understand deeply that if the private sector is going to thrive, they need to be focused on the hard work market. When you have to export, you have to think differently from what you normally consider when you are looking at the local market.
It is also about building connections globally that then bring back best practices into the local market. As the ministry responsible for trade and industry, we remain very committed to ensuring that our exporters are supported,” he said.
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