Mbabane – Eswatini’s textile, manufacturing and agricultural industries have been given another opportunity to access the United States market duty-free after the US Government extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to December 31, 2028.
The extension is expected to give local businesses more time to increase exports, production and employment while attracting investment targeting the US market.
AGOA provides duty-free access to the US market for more than 1 000 products from eligible African countries.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade welcomed the extension, saying it would provide an extended market for Eswatini’s products and support the country’s trade and industrialisation agenda.
The sectors expected to benefit include textiles, manufacturing and agriculture, which had previously accessed the US market under AGOA before the arrangement came to an end in 2025.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said the government expected the additional market access to result in increased production and employment.
“This extension will increase market access for the country’s products thus increasing employment as a result of the expected increase in production,” Khumalo said.
He said Eswatini was also looking forward to increased exports to the US and growth in investments targeting the American market.
Khumalo said the extension would also provide opportunities for more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to participate in value chains linked to exports.
He said this was important as Eswatini and other African countries pursued the development of value chains to support industrialisation, with finished products destined for the US market.
The minister said the government would work with stakeholders to ensure that businesses derived practical benefits from the extended access.
“The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade is ready to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the opportunities presented by this agreement translate to tangible benefits for the people of Eswatini,” he said.
The ministry will also communicate details of the extension to the business community to ensure that companies are aware of and make full use of the benefits available under AGOA.
Khumalo said Eswatini welcomed the US Government’s commitment to deepening relations with Africa.
He said the country would continue working closely with the US Government, the US Embassy in Eswatini and the Office of African Affairs at the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to ensure that Eswatini’s AGOA eligibility is maintained.
The extension is expected to give Eswatini’s exporters additional time to position their products in the US market while creating opportunities for businesses to participate in international value chains.
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