PM highlights exporters’ role in driving Eswatini’s inclusive growth agenda
By Siphesihle Dlamini
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini delivered a powerful message at the Eswatini National Export Excellence Awards (ENEXA), highlighting the critical role of exporters in driving the nation’s economic growth and transformation.
His remarks underscored the government’s commitment to recognising and supporting businesses that push boundaries and contribute significantly to Eswatini’s GDP.
At the heart of his address, the Prime Minister expressed deep honour in celebrating exporters, whom he described as “not just entrepreneurs; they are the country’s GDP envoys, the major contributors to the country’s economic performance.”
This powerful characterisation elevates exporters from mere business operators to key architects of Eswatini’s economic future, emphasising their vital role in the nation’s prosperity.
The event, organised by the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) and its partners, took place amid the 57th Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF), a major platform fostering business opportunities.
Prime Minister Dlamini acknowledged the importance of this timing, noting that the Trade Fair has “already created exciting opportunities for our business community.”
The upcoming celebration of 57 years of the Trade Fair, to be attended by His Majesty King Mswati III, serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of exports in Eswatini’s economic landscape.
Looking beyond the immediate celebrations, the Prime Minister linked the significance of exports to the broader vision of national transformation.
He referenced the government’s strategic framework, including the “Grand Plan for National Transformation, which is in its final stakeholder engagement stage,” as well as medium-term initiatives like the Nkwe Programme of Action and the National Development Plan.
These plans collectively place exports “at the centre of the country’s inclusive exponential growth agenda,” signalling a clear governmental focus on leveraging export-led growth to achieve development goals.
Dlamini articulated a bold vision for Eswatini’s future, aiming to transform the country into a developed nation and elevate it to the status of an upper-middle-income country by 2028.
This vision aligns with the country’s long-term economic ambitions and highlights the strategic importance of export activities as a driver of sustainable development and economic diversification.