Mbabane- Three Eswatini stockbroking firms have been connected to a pan-African trading platform following the country’s admission into the second phase of the African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP), expanding their access to a growing network of African capital markets.
The three firms, 268 Securities Limited, African Alliance Eswatini Securities Limited and ALPHSZ Securities Limited were introduced onto the continental platform when the Eswatini Stock Exchange (ESE) officially joined the live AELP trading network during the 13th Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) Forum held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on July 1.
The African Exchanges Linkage Project, spearheaded by the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), seeks to improve connectivity between African stock exchanges by enabling licensed brokers to execute cross-border trades through a single order-routing platform.
According to information released by ASEA, the platform now connects 11 African stock exchanges through a network of more than 50 licensed stockbrokers. Under the system, settlement and custody of securities remain subject to the rules and regulatory framework of the host exchange.The inclusion of the three local brokers means they are now part of the continental trading network, which is designed to make it easier for investors in participating countries to access securities listed across member exchanges.
ASEA President Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba said the latest expansion marked another milestone in building integrated and vibrant African capital markets through stronger cooperation among exchanges.He said the initiative aims to increase market connectivity, promote cross-border investment and create a single interconnected trading ecosystem capable of supporting Africa’s economic transformation.
The expansion also strengthens the ESE’s presence within Africa’s capital markets. According to the exchange’s latest annual report, ESE has nine listed companies with a total market capitalisation of approximately E6.9 billion.
The African Exchanges Linkage Project was launched in 2022 with seven participating exchanges representing more than US$1.5 trillion in combined market capitalisation. The second phase has expanded the network by bringing the Eswatini Stock Exchange, Botswana Stock Exchange, Ghana Stock Exchange and Uganda Securities Exchange onto the live platform.
The latest development places Eswatini’s stockbroking industry within a broader continental trading ecosystem as African exchanges continue efforts to deepen regional capital market integration.
Discussion about this post