MBABANE – The Government of Eswatini, together with the African Development Bank (AfDB), officially launched the 2025 Country Focus Report on Friday, placing the spotlight on how the Kingdom can better harness its capital for development amid growing economic pressures.
The launch, held in Mbabane, brought together senior government officials, representatives from the AfDB, development partners and members of the diplomatic corps. The report, themed “Making Eswatini’s Capital Work Better for its Development,” was presented against the backdrop of global disruptions affecting economies across the continent.
Ms Moono Mupotola, Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development Office at AfDB, joined Eswatini government ministers and officials at the event. The keynote address was delivered on behalf of the government, with a message of gratitude directed at the AfDB team led by President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina for their continued efforts in producing development data and analysis through tools like the Country Focus Reports and the African Economic Outlook.
According to the report, Eswatini faces a constrained fiscal environment, rising costs of living, and limited access to capital — all worsened by geopolitical tensions and instability elsewhere in Africa. Despite these challenges, the Kingdom holds significant potential through its natural resources, including fertile land, forests, and biodiversity in its protected areas.
The report makes several recommendations on how Eswatini can unlock its capital, with a focus on enhancing institutional coordination, building infrastructure, and investing in human capacity. It encourages stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, and development partners — particularly in areas like agro-processing, tourism, financial services, and renewable energy.
Government is said to be implementing reforms aimed at strengthening the value of its capital and improving service delivery. These reforms include public financial management systems, digital transformation of public services, regulatory streamlining, and scaling up investment in clean energy.
Efforts are also underway to improve macroeconomic stability through better spending efficiency, expansion of the tax base, and managing public debt. There are further plans to promote export diversification and regional integration, while encouraging climate-smart and green industrialisation strategies.
The report stresses that leveraging finance for development will require broader stakeholder collaboration and adoption of innovative funding mechanisms. It adds that the Kingdom must work towards closing investment gaps, enhancing competitiveness, and accelerating structural transformation.
The 2025 Country Focus Report for Eswatini is now available for policymakers and development partners to guide future strategies aimed at inclusive and resilient growth.
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