AWAZA – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has called for urgent reforms to the global trading system to address the economic isolation of landlocked nations, including Eswatini, which continues to face structural barriers that hinder its participation in international trade.
Speaking at the 3rd United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, the minister said landlocked countries make up 7% of the world’s population but accounted for just 1.2% of global trade in 2024.
He said this imbalance reveals the need for a fairer multilateral trading system that recognises the constraints of LLDCs and supports their inclusion, particularly in digital and services trade.
Khumalo explained that Eswatini’s trade environment is held back by several challenges, including its dependence on South African and Mozambican corridors for port access. Delays or policy shifts in either country have direct consequences for Eswatini’s trade flows.
He also mentioned the country’s exclusion from digital trade due to poor internet access in rural areas and low uptake of e-commerce tools among small businesses. Other challenges include a weak services sector, poor integration of transport infrastructure, and inconsistent customs standards across the region.
To address these, the minister said Eswatini is actively implementing reforms. These include upgrading border infrastructure at Mananga, Ngwenya and Lavumisa, and improving access to the Durban and Maputo trade corridors.
He added that Eswatini is developing a National Single Window system to digitise customs procedures and improve trade efficiency, in line with commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. However, he noted that progress depends on technical support and cooperation with neighbouring transit countries.
Efforts are also underway to build local capacity in digital trade governance, including laws around e-commerce, data protection and cybersecurity. The country is also seeking to diversify its exports beyond sugar, beverages and textiles by investing in agro-processing and green economy products.
To ease the cost of doing business, Khumalo cited the recent launch of the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) platform, which combines licensing, tax registration, trade permits and investment facilitation into a single digital entry point for entrepreneurs and investors.
The minister proposed a roadmap for LLDC cooperation focused on three priorities: recognising their unique constraints, building targeted technical and financial partnerships, and promoting data-driven engagement in global trade processes.
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