By 
By Kwanele Dhladhla
Eswatini received a resounding vote of confidence in its economic future when Hungary’s newly appointed Ambassador, Attila György Horvath, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to 100 per cent duty-free and quota-free access for the Kingdom’s products into the vast EU market of 450 million consumers.
This assurance was made during a high-profile ceremony at Lozitha Royal Palace on Thursday, where His Majesty King Mswati III accepted the credentials of five newly accredited ambassadors representing Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Italy, and Finland.
The envoys – Horvath (Hungary), Vladimir Gracz (Slovakia), Rasa Jankauskaité (Lithuania), Gabriele Phillip Annis (Italy), and Satu Lassila (Finland) – underscored Europe’s determination to deepen cooperation with Eswatini across trade, development, and governance.
Ambassador Horvath, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, pledged that Europe’s longstanding partnership with Eswatini would not only remain intact but expand in scope.
“I want to reassure Your Majesty, the government, and the people of Eswatini that our countries, in the framework of the European Union, will stand by our commitments concerning partnerships and trade. This includes Eswatini’s 100 per cent duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union market of 450 million consumers. That commitment will not change,” he said.
The pledge anchors Eswatini’s participation in the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), a framework that has enabled the country to expand exports of sugar, textiles, processed food, and agricultural products into Europe.
With access secured to the world’s second-largest consumer market, Eswatini’s exporters remain well-positioned to drive industrialisation and rural development.
King Mswati III warmly welcomed the envoys and applauded the European Union for its enduring support in Eswatini’s economic journey.
He described the EU as a “strong economic partner” whose involvement in agriculture, infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, and governance had transformed lives across the Kingdom.
The King went further, challenging the EU to share its growth strategies so Eswatini could accelerate its vision of becoming a first-world nation.
“As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, we call on the European Union to impart lessons and experiences which will allow us to grow even faster. We do not need to invent new wheels, but to follow suit in your rapid growth strategy to attain first-world status.
The EU must support our dreams, and you can also count on us,” His Majesty declared.
This year marks five decades of EU-Eswatini relations, a partnership that has matured from development aid into a broader spectrum of trade facilitation, capacity building, and sustainable investment.
Over the years, EU countries have financed projects in infrastructure, agriculture, social protection, green energy, and emergency food security, helping to buffer Eswatini against global shocks.
According to the EU envoys, contributions from European taxpayers have funded clean water projects, electrification, healthcare delivery, and rural education initiatives that have directly impacted thousands of Emaswati.
Community-based groups-viewed as drivers of social change-have also benefited from European capacity-building grants.
The EU remains the largest donor of official development assistance globally, contributing €95.9 billion (nearly E2 trillion) in 2023 alone, accounting for 42 per cent of all global development assistance.
Ambassador Horvath emphasized that EU engagement in Eswatini is anchored in shared values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, consistent with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Eswatini’s Constitution.
The envoys also linked Eswatini’s development trajectory to broader global security concerns, citing ongoing instability in the Middle East and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as challenges requiring a united front.
“As partners, we must support one another to defend the UN Charter and uphold the international multilateral order that is vital for ensuring global peace, independence, and sovereignty for all countries, big or small,” Horvath stressed.
Despite these strains, Europe has continued to channel development finance into Africa, demonstrating what the Ambassador described as “unwavering commitment” to partner nations such as Eswatini.
The reaffirmation of duty-free EU market access comes at a critical juncture for Eswatini, which has been pursuing export-led growth strategies under its Vision 2022 and subsequent plans to achieve first-world status.
The EU remains one of Eswatini’s most important trade destinations. Sugar exports, long the backbone of the country’s trade with Europe, continue to thrive under preferential arrangements, while diversification efforts are pushing honey, tea, citrus fruits, textiles, and handicrafts into EU markets.
Economists note that sustained EU access could help narrow Eswatini’s trade deficit, expand manufacturing capacity, and attract fresh investment into value-added industries.
With Europe positioning itself as a hub for green energy and sustainable agriculture, opportunities exist for Eswatini to integrate climate-resilient exports into EU value chains.
King Mswati’s appeal for lessons in Europe’s growth model reflects a broader aspiration to move from aid dependency to self-sustaining economic expansion. By leveraging trade privileges, the Kingdom aims to scale up industrial development, empower youth, and boost rural incomes.
“We greatly appreciate the input to economic growth in terms of investment into agriculture, education, the youth, and infrastructure, among others. But we need to go further. The EU must help us turn opportunities into rapid growth and ensure our dream of first-world status is realised,” His Majesty urged.
The King emphasized that Eswatini does not seek to merely benefit from preferential access but to partner strategically with the EU to unlock competitiveness, build resilient supply chains, and create jobs for the country’s young population.
All five newly accredited ambassadors voiced commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Eswatini. They pledged to work closely with the EU Ambassador in Mbabane to ensure that collaborative projects deliver lasting impact.
“It is with a true sense of honour and hope that my colleagues and I take on this new assignment. Together, we shall spare no effort to enhance and nurture the cordial relations between our countries and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Our efforts will strengthen our diplomatic ties and lead to mutual peace and prosperity,” Horvath concluded.
The ceremony at Lozitha not only marked a symbolic renewal of Europe-Eswatini friendship but also injected new optimism into the Kingdom’s economic ambitions. With the EU market wide open and commitments reaffirmed, Eswatini now faces the challenge of maximising its comparative advantages and ensuring its private sector is globally competitive.
For policymakers and businesses alike, the next phase will demand innovation, capacity-building, and strategic investment areas where the EU’s lessons could prove invaluable.
As Eswatini positions itself among Africa’s rising economies, the strong backing from Europe signals that the Kingdom’s journey to first-world status has credible partners ready to walk alongside.
