Manzini – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has praised Eswatini’s exporters for driving growth and showing resilience in the face of global economic uncertainty. He was addressing the Eswatini National Export Excellence Awards (ANEXA), hosted alongside the 57th Eswatini International Trade Fair.
Dlamini said exports remain a central pillar in the country’s transformation agenda, which is guided by the Grand Plan for National Transformation, the Nkwe Programme of Action and the National Development Plan. Government has set a target of raising exports to more than E50 billion by 2030.
He urged businesses to expand their reach beyond traditional markets and adapt to global shifts by tapping into opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as growing demand in Asian markets such as Japan and Taiwan.
“The global trade environment is increasingly uncertain, and Eswatini must adapt with resilience,” he said, noting that government is working to secure predictable access to markets while encouraging companies to diversify their strategies.
According to the PM, exports not only bring in foreign currency but also create jobs, support business expansion and enhance Eswatini’s competitiveness regionally and internationally. He added that for a landlocked nation with a small population, external markets are not a choice but a necessity.
This year’s ANEXA winners were announced across several categories. Rhodes Food Group Eswatini took home the top prize as Exporter of the Year. Other winners included:
- Best Exporter for Market Diversification: Rhodes Food Group Eswatini
- Best Exporter for Product Diversification: Lactalis Eswatini
- Most Innovative and Versatile Exporter: Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation
- Best Emerging Exporter: Eswatini Coffee
- Best Exporter to Africa: Montigny Investments (Pty) Ltd
- Best Trade Agreement Utilisation Beyond Africa: Ngwenya Glass (Pty) Ltd
- Woman Exporter of the Year: Eswatini Foods
- Youth Exporter of the Year: Smiling Through Farming and Supplies
- MSME Exporter of the Year: Ukwazi Makadamia (African Christian College)
- High Impact Exporter: Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation
- Trade Finance Initiative: Trade Finance Solutions (FNB Eswatini)
- Trade Support Initiative: Promotion Growth Through Competitive Alliances (ITC and EU supported)
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