KWALUSENI – Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo has urged young people in Eswatini to take the lead in steering the country through digital transformation. Khumalo was speaking at the opening of the AI and Digital Transformation Summit at the University of Eswatini on Tuesday.
The two-day event runs under the theme Empowering the Next Generation: AI Skills, Innovation and Opportunity and brings together youth, industry players, and government agencies to discuss how artificial intelligence can shape Eswatini’s future.
The summit is organised by Stratcom Media in partnership with the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP), the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, along with organisations such as UNESCO, NAMBOARD, the Clinton Health Access Initiative and the Innovators Association of Eswatini.
Khumalo pointed to the importance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), saying they account for over 90 percent of the private sector in Eswatini. He said AI presents new opportunities for MSMEs through systems like automated stock management, predictive analytics, and enhanced customer service.
Minister of ICT Savannah Maziya, represented by Bonga Ndlangamandla, Director of E-Government, said the summit supports the country’s “Year of Transformation” agenda, which was launched by His Majesty King Mswati III. The agenda includes key programmes such as Government in Your Hand and the youth-driven Nkwee Programme.
Ndlangamandla told attendees that digitising sectors such as education, healthcare, finance, and trade has become urgent and AI will be key in that process.
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