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By Lwazi Dlamini
The European Union (EU) and International Trade Centre (ITC) collaborated to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at the 2024 Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF).
This initiative, part of the broader “Eswatini: Promoting Growth through Competitive Alliances” programme, is designed to empower local businesses by providing platforms to showcase their products and gain access to new market opportunities.
MSMEs supported by the EU and ITC at the EITF 2024 included Indigenous Africana, Vukani BoMake, Patience Delight, Scoops N Giggles, Sibongile Beverages, Eswatini Coffee, Indzaba Yami, and Siyaphambili Cooperatives.
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Their participation offered an invaluable opportunity to introduce their unique products to a wider audience and forge new business connections.
On the sidelines of the Trade Fair, the ITC, supported by the EU and in collaboration with the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), hosted a seminar titled “Made in Eswatini: Leveraging the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)”.
This seminar aimed to provide insights into the opportunities presented by the EPA, the Rules of Origin, and quality standards necessary for accessing international markets.
Experts from various sectors, including the International Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, shared valuable knowledge on navigating trade frameworks to enhance MSMEs’ competitiveness and market access.
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The new EU Ambassador-Designate to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, visited the MSME stalls, gaining insights into their businesses and reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting small enterprises.
“These MSMEs embody the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation needed to thrive in today’s competitive markets,” he remarked, adding that with the right support, these businesses could expand regionally and globally.
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Ambassador Mecklenburg also toured the livestock exhibition section, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, where he praised the diversity of indigenous and exotic cattle and goat breeds on display.
This connects to the EU, ITC, and Eswatini Government’s joint efforts in the Eswatini Livestock Value Chain Development Programme (ELVCDP), which aims to improve beef and goat value chains through breeding enhancements, rangeland protection, and market access.
