BY EPN
MBABANE – In a statement published through the official Eswatini Government Facebook page, increasing exports from Eswatini is a top priority for the Government. This was revealed by Minister of Commerce Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo during an event which celebrates exporters from Eswatini.
Here is the report from the event as shared on by the Eswatini Government on Facebook:
“Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo says Government aims to “increase and diversify exports from Eswatini.” He has been speaking during the Second Eswatini Exporters Awards today.
Minister Khumalo said “As such, all Government departments and institutions are geared to support and facilitate export trade as a priority. It is exciting for me to note that even during these tough economic times for Eswatini, we still have major companies exporting from our country; some have been exporting for a number of years, while others have been coming in to set up their factories in Eswatini.”
Minister Khumalo added that “I have been told that over 20 companies applied for recognition in the different categories of the awards. This indeed is encouraging, noting that companies are enthusiastic about doing business in Eswatini, in particular exporting to other markets across the globe.”
According to U.S. Ambassador Jeanne Maloney, “The Exporter Awards recognise the outstanding trade performance and innovation of Eswatini firms in reaching the South African and U.S. markets, especially under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA. The awards are a demonstration of our support for Eswatini’s export-led economic growth model.”
The biggest winners of the awards were Montigny Investments, who won the Overall Best Exporter of the Year Award & Best Exporter SA as well as Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation, who took home the Consistent Exporter SA, Top Economic Impact Award and Exporter SA Award runners-up.
Other winners were Zoggs Ltd (Best New Exporter USA), Black Mamba (Consistenst Exporter USA, Runner-up Exporter USA), Golden Jubilee Apparels (Best Exporter USA), Ukwazi Macademia (Best New Exporter SA), Smiling Through Farming (Young Entrepreneur Exporter), Far East Textiles (Top Business Woman Exporter) and Tinotsise NGO (Greatest Social Impact). In 2021, Eswatini exported goods and products to the value of over E30.6 billion from different sectors of business, an 8% growth from 2020’s exports of about E28.3 billion.”
