EZULWINI – The Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) has expanded the country’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) community to 20 companies following the accreditation of seven major enterprises.
The accreditation ceremony, held at the ERS Headquarters, brought together senior government officials, captains of industry, border agencies, the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and representatives of accredited companies.
The event underscored a shared ambition: Building a border management system capable of unlocking faster clearance, reducing administrative burdens, enabling secure supply chains and lowering the cost of doing business in Eswatini.
The newly-accredited companies:
- CONCO Limited
- Seylan Freight
- DHL Eswatini
- Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC)
- Grindrod Logistics
- Southern Star Logistics
- Lactalis Eswatini
The new entrants into the AEO fold signal increased private-sector confidence in the reforms being implemented by ERS and the NTFC under Eswatini’s national trade facilitation agenda.
ERS Commissioner General Brightwell Nkambule described the AEO programme as a central pillar of the ERS strategy, deeply rooted in the WCO Framework of Standards and designed to foster trust, transparency and collaboration between Customs and the private sector.
He said Eswatini’s trade environment must move towards security, predictability and competitiveness and the AEO programme provides a structured route to achieving this.
“At the ERS, we believe our vision of ‘100 per cent voluntary compliance for a better Eswatini’ is achievable, and with trusted partners such as yourselves, we also believe that the 24/7 No-Stop Border is within reach,” Nkambule said.
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AEO is the diplomatic passport of trade – Rijkenberg
EZULWINI – The Minister for Finance Neal Rijkenberg affirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the programme and extending its benefits as part of a broader economic transformation agenda.
In his remarks, delivered via a pre-recorded address, Rijkenberg said the AEO concept is built on a foundational principle: When business invests in compliance, government must reciprocate with trust, facilitation and efficiency. He noted that companies attaining AEO status demonstrate strong internal controls, secure and transparent supply chain practices and a consistent track record of compliance.
“The AEO Programme rewards companies that meet specific customs and supply chain management standards by offering tangible benefits that improve the speed and cost of doing business,” the minister said, explaining that the model aligns with SACU’s regional trade facilitation goals.
He highlighted that the programme is expanding not only in numbers, but also in the diversity of participating sectors, which reflects Eswatini’s commitment to leveraging the AEO framework as a tool for boosting export competitiveness.
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Every saved hour strengthens company’s balance sheet
MBABANE – Business Eswatini CEO Nathi Dlamini, who also co-chairs the NTFC, delivered a strong endorsement of the AEO initiative.
He described it as a strategic national asset that strengthens competitiveness, boosts investor confidence and lowers the cost of doing business.
Dlamini noted that with the new additions, the AEO community now stands at 20 companies – an achievement he said reflects the maturing of Eswatini’s trade ecosystem.
“For those of us in the National Trade Facilitation Committee, this is a practical demonstration of what coordinated reform looks like when it moves from policy design to real operational value for traders, manufacturers and investors,” he said.
The BE CEO stressed that efficient border processes are not merely administrative conveniences, but critical drivers of competitiveness.
“In today’s global trade environment, where supply chains are under pressure, efficiency is not a luxury; it is a precondition necessary for growth. Every saved hour, every predictable clearance process translates into lower costs, stronger balance sheets and greater confidence to invest,” he said.
Dlamini also highlighted the significance of time-sensitive exports such as fruit, garments, sugar and consumer goods. For such industries, delays at the border can translate into lost customers, missed markets or spoiled goods – losses that ripple across the national economy.
He commended the NTFC for working towards a whole-of-government AEO programme, which will harmonise all border agencies – Customs, immigration, health, agriculture and standards regulators – ensuring predictable and digitally supported trade processes.
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