MBABANE – Eswatini continues to stay on the radar of global investors after Russell Mmiso Dlamini received a high-level delegation of potential investors from Japan on a scoping mission.
This meeting, held on Wednesday, could open the door to new manufacturing and value-adding industries in the kingdom.
The delegation comprised executives from Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Unicharm Corporation – two major Japanese firms with footprints across Asia and Africa.
Their visit signals growing interest in Eswatini as a potential base for regional operations, particularly in manufacturing, logistics, consumer goods and related supply chains.
The prime minister welcomed the delegation, assuring them of government’s full backing from the pre-investment phase through to post-investment aftercare services.
The Japanese firms’ visit follows a recommendation by Tolaram Group, a partner of Kellogg’s, which has operated in Eswatini for the past five years.
The positive experience of established investors is increasingly shaping peer recommendations – often the most persuasive signal to new entrants weighing African markets.
Toyota Tsusho, a diversified trading house with interests in automotive, machinery, energy, chemicals and consumer products, is understood to be exploring opportunities linked to regional value chains and distribution hubs.
Unicharm, a global manufacturer of personal care and hygiene products, is assessing production and market access options that could serve Southern Africa and beyond.
For Eswatini, such investments are attractive not only for capital inflows but also for the potential to deepen local supply chains, grow exports and develop skills in manufacturing, quality control and logistics.
The country’s geographic position, proximity to South Africa’s ports and markets, and participation in regional trade arrangements enhance its appeal as a springboard into the Southern African market.
The engagement was led by the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, accompanied by the Minister for Finance, Neal Rijkenberg and the Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority, Sibani Mngomezulu, alongside senior officials from EIPA and Kellogg Tolaram.
While the visit remains exploratory, government is optimistic that concrete proposals could follow. The scoping mission includes engagements with regulators, potential local partners and site visits to industrial areas.
If feasibility studies are positive, the next phase would involve detailed project design, regulatory approvals and, ultimately, capital commitments.
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Eswatini reaps investor interest after Osaka Expo
MBABANE – These meetings come on the heels of the Prime Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini’s visit to Japan for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The PM led a robust delegation, comprising of Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo and Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) CEO Sibani Mngomezulu, to present the kingdom as a premier investment destination.
During the expo, Eswatini hosted the Eswatini Business Forum on the sidelines, attracting prominent Japanese stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. The forum presented a unified vision of the country’s economic future, highlighting Eswatini as a strategic gateway into Africa for Japanese businesses.
Addressing the gathering in Osaka, Minister Khumalo underscored three key attributes that make Eswatini attractive to investors: predictability, ambition and competent leadership.
*Full article available on Pressreader*
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