MBABANE – Eswatini’s investment landscape has received a significant boost after five international and regional impact investors signalled strong interest in the country.
This follows a three-day investment roadshow organised by the International Trade Centre (ITC) with support from the European Union (EU), in collaboration with the Government of Eswatini.
The roadshow, which brought together investors and investment-ready micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), served as a strategic platform to unlock new financing opportunities, foster partnerships and showcase the country’s evolving entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Collectively representing between E3 billion and E5 billion in investment capital, the visiting investors highlighted Eswatini’s growing potential as a viable destination for impact investment, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, agro-processing and the creative economy.
During the programme, investors toured several high-potential businesses, including Beef Boys, Ngwenya Glass, Eswatini Foods, Luna Hair and Body and Black Mamba Foods.
These visits offered first-hand exposure to local enterprises demonstrating scalability, innovation and strong market positioning.
The roadshow also featured a series of engagements, including a welcome reception, plenary sessions and a farewell dinner, which enabled deeper interaction between investors, entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders.
According to the EU, facilitating such engagements is essential to strengthening Eswatini’s private sector and unlocking inclusive economic growth.
Eva-Maria Engdahl, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Eswatini, emphasised that expanding access to alternative financing is critical for MSME growth.
“Supporting MSMEs to access alternative financing is critical for unlocking inclusive and sustainable economic growth. By connecting Eswatini’s entrepreneurs with impact investors, we are helping create new pathways for businesses to scale, create jobs and access regional markets,” she said.
For many of the visiting investors, the roadshow exceeded expectations, revealing a pipeline of ambitious enterprises with strong growth prospects.
Shiluba Mawela, Founder and Managing Partner of Tshiamo Impact Partners, described the visit as eye-opening.
“This has been a phenomenal trip. I came with very low expectations, but was completely blown away by the quality of businesses and opportunities we encountered.
There are already deals we are interested in exploring, and we see strong potential to connect some of these enterprises to markets in South Africa through retailers and offtakers,” said Mawela. She noted that Eswatini represents an underexplored opportunity for impact investors seeking both financial returns and measurable social impact.
Egla Ntumba, Managing Partner of MsFiT Ventures, said the roadshow demonstrated the presence of a strong pipeline of entrepreneurs ready to attract capital.
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