Times Of Swaziland: UK, EIPA TO HOST UK-ESWATINI TRADE INDABA

UK, EIPA TO HOST UK-ESWATINI TRADE INDABA
================================================================================
Ashmond Nzima on 29/03/2022 08:17:00


MBABANE - The British High Commission, in partnership with the UK’s Trade
Forward Southern Africa (TFSA) Programme and the EIPA, is hosting an online
UK-Eswatini Trade Indaba on Thursday.
EIPA is the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority. The theme of the indaba is,
‘Growing Opportunities for Eswatini to Trade with the World’. According to a
correspondence from the British High Commission here in Eswatini,
representatives from the public and private sectors (UK and Eswatini), as well
as national business support organisations; will be discussing the opportunities
to grow trade between Eswatini, the United Kingdom (UK) and the wider southern
Africa region. The key objective is to use the Trade Indaba to increase
awareness of the range of trade development assistance programmes and tools on
offer from a variety of State agencies and trade promotion bodies.
Small business owners, particularly women entrepreneurs, are invited to join the
discussion online to learn more about the TFSA programme, which is already
supporting Eswatini businesses. The TFSA programme works through local business
support organisations in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries and
Mozambique, to address the main barriers firms face when venturing into export
trade. Support and services are targeted at firms that are already exporting, or
near export ready, with an emphasis on women in business.
Support
“As companies, especially women-led firms, get support to expand their trade
horizons in the region and internationally, they will not only emerge
better-prepared from the economic downturn, but also be able to benefit from
wider growth opportunities. “Working with the private sector, customs and
trade facilitation officials, the TFSA programme aims to ensure the provision of
information and tools that will help manage export and import procedures and
other challenges as effectively as possible,” His Excellency Simon Boyden, the
British High Commissioner to Eswatini said.
The High Commissioner urged entrepreneurs, especially women in export-focused
businesses to register by sending an email to thembinkosi.maduna@fdco.gov.uk to
receive a link to the Virtual Trade Indaba. Julie Nixon, Swaziland Fair Trade
(SWIFT) Country Director, said: “Swaziland Fair Trade is incredibly grateful
to be working with Trade Forward Southern Africa (TFSA). Our partnership with
TFSA has allowed us to build the capacity of 14 local food producers and 11
regional enterprises, helping them to improve their export readiness. As an
organisation, we are also learning and building our own capacity through TFSA,
allowing us to offer better services to micro and small enterprises. Our team is
also part of the Future Females Project with TFSA, aiming to develop the next
generation of female exporters in Eswatini. Trade, not aid, is the key to
unlocking the potential of enterprises in Africa to create new sustainable jobs
and overcome poverty in our region.”
For media enquiries, please contact:
Teetee Zwane - Political, Trade Policy & Communications Officer
Mobile: +268 7806 8807
Email: tsenjwako.zwane@fcdo.gov.uk