The ‘Made in Eswatini’ mark has officially been registered as a trademark, marking a major milestone in the formalisation, protection and commercialisation of locally produced goods and services.
The registration, granted by the Eswatini Intellectual Property Office (EIPO), makes the Made in Eswatini logo the intellectual property of A Peculiar People, a local creative and strategic agency that will retain exclusive ownership and legal rights to license and distribute the mark under defined governance and quality guidelines.
The move is expected to strengthen consumer confidence in locally made products, enhance brand credibility for domestic businesses and support Eswatini’s broader industrialisation and buy-local agenda.
According to A Peculiar People, the Made in Eswatini logo exists to certify the authenticity and origin of goods and services produced within the kingdom, allowing consumers to easily identify and trust genuinely local offerings. Beyond certification, the mark is intended to promote national pride while improving the market visibility and competitiveness of Eswatini-based enterprises.
The trademark registration also opens new commercial opportunities for local businesses seeking to scale beyond the domestic market. By providing a recognised mark of origin, the initiative positions Eswatini products more competitively for regional and export markets, where provenance and authenticity increasingly influence purchasing decisions.
Commenting on the milestone, A Peculiar People Chairman Melusi ‘Zox’ Dlamini said the registration signals a shift in how local enterprise is perceived.
“This milestone affirms that local is no longer informal. Local is certified. Local is competitive,” Dlamini said, adding that the organisation appreciated the professionalism and efficiency demonstrated by EIPO throughout the registration process.
Dlamini further revealed that licensing of the Made in Eswatini logo will be governed through a public–private framework, bringing together government and private sector representatives.
The framework is expected to ensure transparent, inclusive and accountable decision-making, while aligning the use of the mark with national development priorities and market realities.
The registration of the Made in Eswatini Mark of Origin was publicly announced by Princess Sakhizwe during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between A Peculiar People and the Youth Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
During the event, Princess Sakhizwe encouraged local entrepreneurs and brands to secure intellectual property protection, noting that this enables businesses to confidently leverage the Made in Eswatini logo while safeguarding revenue generated through their brand names, trademarks and original concepts.
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