LOBAMBA – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has called for a renewed push to expand Eswatini’s trade footprint in the United States, warning of continued economic strain if current imbalances are left unaddressed.
Speaking during a parliamentary session ahead of the inaugural Eswatini Investment Conference at Sharma House yesterday, Khumalo said the country must scale up efforts to increase exports, particularly in agriculture and technology sectors.
Khumalo pointed out that local farmers and manufacturers needed targeted support to boost production and take advantage of opportunities under existing trade arrangements. He said Eswatini’s trade with the U.S. was skewed, with more imports than exports, and called for urgent policy shifts to rebalance the equation.
“We need to ensure our products, especially textiles and pharmaceuticals, are better positioned to enter and thrive in the U.S. market,” said the minister.
He urged government and private sector players to work more closely together, noting that a coordinated strategy—through partnerships with regional trade bodies and business stakeholders—was key to unlocking greater export potential.
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