MBABANE – Five major projects have successfully transitioned to the implementation phase, representing a massive E7.4 billion in investments and an estimated 4 850 jobs.
This significant milestone was recorded by the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, highlighting a period of intense activity geared towards transforming the kingdom’s economic landscape.
According to the Sibani Mngomezulu-led parastatal, physical infrastructure development also saw substantial movement as a 28-hectare site was officially handed over to contractors for the Manzini Arch Project, while a construction tender was awarded for the Manzini Mall Project.
In the industrial sector, it is said that a Metal Foundry Plant was commissioned at Sidvokodvo. In the energy sector, EIPA reports that Tsamela Solar PV reached a financial close, with a power purchase agreement signed and the site commissioned, while advanced negotiations are currently underway for the RESCorp Solar PV project.
It has also been reported that a letter of intent was signed by the Texray Group for the Taiwan Innovation Industrial Park.
It must be said that feasibility studies for the Agro-Industrial Park are progressing. Internally, it has been learnt that a prototype online booking management system was developed and presented.
Regarding this initiative, it is said that funding proposals were submitted to development partners for the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) shelf-space study.
EIPA is mandated to drive economic growth and development within the Kingdom of Eswatini through the attraction, facilitation and promotion of both foreign and domestic investment and trade. During the reporting period, EIPA’s programmes and interventions were strictly aligned with national and institutional strategic priorities.
These priorities centred on job creation, trade promotion and export development, as well as investment promotion and facilitation. Furthermore, it is reported that the authority aligned its work with the harmonisation of Eswatini’s investment regime with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Investment.
It has been learnt that this was done in line with the National AfCFTA Strategy for 2024, which specifically targets a 20 per cent increase in intra-Africa trade, alongside the broader goal of sustainable economic growth.
In pursuit of these strategic objectives, the Times SUNDAY has further learnt that the authority listed several notable achievements.
For instance, it is reported that the Texray Group has committed an E1.32 billion (US$80 million) investment to serve as the anchor investor for the Taiwan Innovation Industrial Park.
Consequently, it is said that EIPA was designated as the national focal point for investment matters under the AfCFTA Protocol on Investment. On the trade promotion front, eighteen companies accessed international markets through exhibitions in Taiwan, generating approximately E2 million in potential export orders.
Domestically, it is reported that 20 trade inquiries were resolved by the authority, achieving a 100 per cent response rate.
Eight enterprises participated in the Royal Signature Expo, with women-owned businesses accounting for 37 per cent of the participants, a figure that surpassed the strategic target of 30 per cent. In the digital space, thirty-five companies were registered on the buyeswatini.shop platform. The Mantenga Trade and Exhibition Centre (MTEC) hosted 47 events during the period, including major gatherings that attracted over 11 000 attendees collectively.
Despite these achievements, EIPA encountered notable challenges.
According to the EIPA report, limited financial resources constrained major infrastructure upgrades at MTEC and delayed the implementation of energy and water-saving initiatives.
Budget pressures emerged due to the elevation of the Eswatini Investment Conference (EIC 2026) to Head of State level and the subsequent relocation to a larger venue. The authority noted that export performance remained vulnerable because of a narrow export basket and fluctuations in global commodity prices.
Additionally, it is said that cross-border trade barriers, including actions by neighbouring revenue authorities, posed risks to investors and exporters. According to EIPA, safety incidents at MTEC also highlighted the need to strengthen maintenance and crowd-control measures. As a result, major MTEC upgrades were deferred to the second quarter to coincide with preparations for the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF).
To mitigate these issues, EIPA leveraged AfCFTA technical assistance to review and strengthen Eswatini’s investment framework.
It has been reported that funding proposals were submitted to development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), to support domestic trade initiatives.
EIPA stated that facilitation and aftercare services through the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) continued to support the implementation of committed investments.
The parastatal has disclosed that discussions through the National Trade Facilitation Committee were expected to address cross-border trade issues, while crowd management and maintenance procedures at MTEC are currently under review following the reported incidents. Looking ahead, EIPA had planned to host EIC 2026 in July and transition to Phase II of AfCFTA technical assistance.
Boosting trade and the economy, the public enterprise also planned to host the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) this month.
It also intended to publish market insights issue No. 3, facilitate participation at the Maputo International Trade Fair (FACIM) and finalise bilateral data-sharing arrangements with the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS).
EIPA has announced that the fully operational digital booking platform will be launched and essential maintenance and electrical upgrades will be undertaken at MTEC in preparation for the EITF.
