Eswatini trains local traders to boost digital trade under buyeswatini initiative
The team from Taiwan with officials from EIPA and some businesspeople during a workshop at Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in Manzini
By Thokozani Mazibuko
More than 70 small and medium enterprises in Eswatini are set to benefit from a new national drive to strengthen their capacity to trade online, as the government pushes to make local businesses more competitive in the digital economy.
The BuyEswatini Capacity Building Workshop for Traders, hosted by the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) at the Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre in Manzini, aims to equip entrepreneurs with practical skills in e-commerce, digital marketing, online store management, and customer engagement.
Opening the two-day event on Tuesday, EIPA Executive Head of Trade Promotion Sibusiso Mnisi said the initiative marks a turning point in Eswatini’s digital trade journey.
“Today is about growth, empowerment, and shared progress,” Mnisi said. “It is about giving every local trader the tools and confidence to thrive in an increasingly digital marketplace.”
Connecting Eswatini to the world
Mnisi said the BuyEswatini platform was created to link local producers and service providers with buyers in Eswatini, across Southern Africa, and beyond.
“BuyEswatini is not just a platform it is a movement. It tells the world that Eswatini products are made with excellence and pride,” he said.
Though still in its pilot phase, the platform has already attracted over 70 local companies, 150 unique products, and more than 100 registered buyers. It has also facilitated over 65 successful online sales, generating E15,000 in transactions.
Top-performing brands on the platform include Honey Child Style, Lujilo Honey, My Coils, Patience Delight, and Master Candy.
Partnerships driving digital growth
Mnisi expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for its continued technical and financial support in developing the platform and facilitating trader training programmes.
He also commended the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade and other stakeholders for advancing the national digital trade agenda.
“This collaboration reminds us that sustainable progress is built through partnership and shared purpose,” Mnisi said.
Embracing the digital economy
The EIPA official underscored that digital transformation is now a critical driver of global competitiveness, urging Eswatini’s traders to adapt to new technologies.
“The marketplace is now global, fast, and always open,” he said. “BuyEswatini is your gateway to that opportunity it bridges the gap between traditional trade and the digital economy.”
During the workshop, participants will receive training in e-commerce finance, digital marketing, product presentation, and customer engagement to enhance their visibility and sales online.
Mnisi said future phases of the BuyEswatini initiative will focus on improving logistics, enhancing payment systems, and expanding market access across the region and internationally.
“We want to see Eswatini’s products not only online but in homes, offices, and stores across Africa and the world,” he said.
He urged traders to take full advantage of the platform, noting that their participation is key to building a resilient national digital economy.
“Each step you take online, each sale you make through BuyEswatini, brings us closer to a stronger, more connected economy,” Mnisi concluded.