By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade, in collaboration with key partners, has unveiled a new initiative set at boosting the quality and marketability of locally produced goods through the Ingelo Certification Scheme.
Over E300 000 has already been allocated to support the first 20 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) undergoing the certification process.
This scheme was officially launched by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo at a ceremony held recently at the Royal Villas Hotel in Ezulwini.
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The Ingelo Certification Scheme, named after a Swati traditional carving tool, used to craft essential wooden products like “umgcwembe”, is designed to ‘carve’ local MSMEs into competitive producers capable of meeting stringent quality and safety standards.
The initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Accelerator Lab, has brought together the Eswatini Standards Authority (SWASA), the MSME department,
the department of Regulatory and Quality Infrastructure Development (RQID), and the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) to create a framework that will help small enterprises navigate the complexities of certification and compliance.
Khumalo emphasized that the Ingelo Scheme is a game-changer for Eswatini’s small business landscape. “Through this incubation certification scheme,
we want to carve and support our MSMEs until they are ready to produce quality and safe products that attract export markets,”
he remarked during his address to business representatives, development partners, and policymakers.
The minister highlighted that the scheme will incorporate standards, including a newly developed national cottage industry standard by SWASA, to ensure that all certified MSMEs adhere to rigorous safety and quality protocols.
In its initial phase, the Ingelo Scheme will provide technical assistance and certification support to 20 MSMEs whose products span a range of goods, including dairy, beverages, jams, peanut butter, and other locally made consumables.
The goal is to have these businesses certified between late 2025 and early 2026, equipping them with the credibility needed to break into formal retail markets and eventually regional trade.
UNDP Resident Representative Henrik Franklin praised the scheme as a critical step toward enhancing the competitiveness of local enterprises. He noted that the Ingelo initiative aligns with international standards such as ISO 17021 and ISO 17067, which are essential for MSMEs seeking to expand beyond local borders.
“The Ingelo Local Certification Scheme presents a significant step towards empowering our MSMEs, which are vital to the economic fabric of Eswatini,” Franklin said.
He added that the certification would not only improve product quality but also open doors for MSMEs to access broader markets, both regionally and internationally.
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The challenges faced by small businesses in Eswatini, including limited access to funding, cash flow issues, and difficulties in meeting payroll, are compounded by the lack of accredited testing facilities within the country.
Currently, Eswatini relies on neighbouring countries for product testing, which incurs prohibitive costs for small enterprises. Certifying a single product can cost upwards of E15,000 (USD818), a figure that is often unattainable for emerging businesses.
This has historically forced many MSMEs to operate informally, where profitability and stability are compromised.
Entrepreneurs like Nkosephayo Manyatsi, the founder of AgriSol Foods, highlighted the struggles small businesses face in navigating market access. She emphasized that MSMEs often lack the networks and knowledge needed to connect with buyers, making it difficult to scale their operations.
“In addition to these challenges, we face issues such as inadequate infrastructure and limited access to information about best practices, trends, and consumer preferences,” Manyatsi explained.
The Ingelo Certification Scheme is seen as a solution to these barriers by providing a trusted certification process that assures retailers of product safety and quality.
This is crucial for gaining access to formal retail outlets, which have been hesitant to stock products from unverified sources.
Lincoln Motsa, Managing Director of Linac Enterprises, trading as OK Foods, expressed appreciation for the scheme, stating,
“This initiative provides us, as retailers, the assurance that the goods we sell to our customers meet the required standards, aiding the MSMEs in developing and improving their product quality.”
More MSMEs are expected to benefit from the Ingelo Scheme beyond the initial 20.