….Eswatini stalls most popular
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has come out the handcraft sector needs more support.
He was speaking when welcoming back a team of crafters that participated at the 36th Surajkund International Mela Crafts Fair, which was held in Delhi, India, on February 2 to February 19, 2023. Minister Manqoba said a larger segment of the population is dependent on handicraft for its livelihoods, which translates to the economic growth of the country.
“The participation of our team is as a result of the continued bilateral relations enjoyed between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of India. We are grateful to the existing relations between the two countries as it has started yielding positive results. It is the third consecutive time Eswatini crafters benefit from the relations between the two countries,” he said.
In addition to that he highlighted that the Eswatini stall was the most popular stall in the fair, because of the colorful unique handcraft that was on display. This is due to the fact that artisans now understand the market requirements and made products that are satisfactory to the global market accessing the international market. This is because of networking from events such as this crafts fair made possible by the Indian High Commission in Eswatini,” he said.
Minister Khumalo said it was encouraging to note that Eswatini’s talent was exposed to the world as over 40 countries were represented in this crafts fair, which was aimed at preserving traditional skills of hand-making products which of late was overtaken or substituted by the use of Industrial machines through the application of technological designs.
“On behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, I would like to pass our sincere gratitude to the Republic of India for the continued support extended to our crafters. This shows India’s interest in strengthening the relations between the two countries through ensuring an increased contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the handicraft sector,” he said. The team also shared that their experience in India and that they had a great time at the fair. The Eswatini team comprised crafters selected from different sectors as well as a traditional dance group. Products showcased at the fair included grass products, beadwork as well as wood and stone products. It was sponsored by the Government of India.
