Businesses empowered through UN-Government partnership

MBABANE – As Eswatini opens new doors for business, three key initiatives are empowering entrepreneurs, boosting trade access and guiding investment towards sustainable growth and innovation.

Eswatini positions itself for greater economic transformation, as government, in partnership with the United Nations (UN) and Business Eswatini (BE), is championing three strategic initiatives that are already reshaping the country’s business landscape.

These initiatives; the Ingelo Local Certification Scheme, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Investor Map are designed to unlock new opportunities for local entrepreneurs, stimulate investment and accelerate inclusive growth.

Certification The Ingelo Local Certification Scheme is among the most promising tools helping Eswatini’s entrepreneurs align their products with international quality and safety standards.

This allows small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to compete not just locally, but regionally and globally, by ensuring their goods meet the stringent requirements of export markets.

In addition, Eswatini’s AfCFTA implementation strategy is opening access to the continent’s vast trade network. By equipping local businesses to participate in intra-African trade, the country is setting the stage for increased exports, new business partnerships and more diversified economic growth.

Meanwhile, the SDG Investor Map, developed jointly by the UN and the Government of Eswatini, is guiding investors towards high-impact sectors including finance, agriculture, renew[1]able and alternative energy, infrastructure, healthcare and education.

Intelligence This tool provides valuable market intelligence and identifies opportunities where investment can yield both profit and social progress. UN Resident Coordinator George Wachira stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector and development partners.

“Today’s global crises are too large for any single actor to tackle alone,” he said. “The private sector is more than an engine of economic growth; it is a catalyst for transformation. Businesses drive innovation, deploy cutting-edge technologies, build skills and continuously improve efficiency, lifting people out of poverty-and making money doing it.”

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