Mbabane: The Kingdom of Eswatini on Thursday shipped goods worth over E1.5 million which will be exhibited at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
The Expo provides an opportunity for Eswatini to participate and exhibit its products to over 192 countries around the world.
The shipment of goods took place in Matsapha and was commissioned by the Minister of Tourism Moses Vilakati at Seylan Freight in Matsapha. Minister Vilakati has described the products as ’emblematic of the Kingdom of Eswatini’s dynamism, diversity, and uniqueness.’
Speaking during the product shipment, the minister stated that there were 5,000 units of products and these products amount to a total of E1.5 million, which translates to 107,142 US Dollars.
The minister said in the upcoming weeks, we will be profiling the full list of traders who have submitted their products as a way of encouraging visibility for their businesses. Additionally, we will also be inviting other local businesses to submit their profiles as a way of celebrating and magnifying the vibrant creative and entrepreneurial spirit that the Kingdom of Eswatini boasts.
The Expo 2020 Dubai begins on 1 October 2021 and ends on 31 March 2022. Eswatini is joining 192 other countries & the products shipped will be for both display & retail purposes. They include leather products, handicrafts, glassware, sauces & traditional attire, among others.
The opportunity for Eswatini to participate in the Dubai expo 2020 was through a kind sponsorship by the UAE government’s generous sponsorship of 23 million Emalangeni, which assisted in the construction of Eswatini’s Pavilion, transportation of exhibition material, and the movement of some of the Eswatini’s Pavilion staff to and from Dubai. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has presented Eswatini an opportunity to establish a new market, attract huge visitor numbers and lure prospective investors from the East to establish businesses in the country in line with the Post-Covid-19 Recovery Strategy.
Speaking during the shipment the minister of tourism stated that as government they would like to thank the local traders and SMEs who responded enthusiastically and swiftly to our national call for product submissions for display and for retail in Dubai. “We would also like to express our gratitude to our team at the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority for facilitating the product acquisition with a spirit of inclusivity and for organizing the logistics to ensure that the products reach Dubai in time for the Expo.”
The country shipped over 5000 products which were from various sectors of the economy including:
- Cosmetics from Swati Secrets
- Glassware from Ngwenya Glass
- Baskets from Gone Rural and Tintsaba
- Clothing accessories, handmade jewelry made from wood material by women traders and artisans at the Manzini Market
- Chilli sauces from Black Mamba
- Jams from Eswatini Kitchen
- Candles from Swazi Candles,
- Traditional attires, beads, and emagcebesha, as well as a myriad of leather products (tingwabela), handbags, and belts
- We also have Kellogg’s noodles and many, many more.
Participation
Eswatini’s participation in the Expo 2020 Dubai will benefit the country in the refined brand equity for Eswatini in the medium to long term as the event is projected to host over twenty-five million visitors during the six months period. Throughout the period the country will be leveraging some of the key economic sectors showcased in the EXPO which includes Tourism, Trade, Investment, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Culture.
Worth noting is that all partaking countries have been allocated slots to celebrate their National days and Eswatini has been given will celebrate its National Day on October 12, 2021. During this day the country will be expected to showcase its culture through dance and cuisine. This is another way of marketing the country and showing the world our uniqueness as a destination.
The benefits of Eswatini’s participation in this expo include:
- An improved and positive image for Eswatini as portrayed by the international community.
- A visible Eswatini full of peace, a safe and secure destination for tourism, and an endowed place for doing business.
- Improved reflectivity for African and international brands of companies, products, and innovations.
- Connect with African and other global Innovators. Technologists, Research & Development nucleus as well as technology financiers from the rest of the globe to build partnerships with our Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).
- Develop attainable synergies and aligning with the African Union position in the continent as far as the participation intents for the EXPO.
- Promote tourism, trade, and new investment for the Eswatini Private Sector and global linkages.
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