BY NELIWE NGUBANE
EZULWINI– Entrepreneurs and manufacturers seeking to use the Made in Eswatini® Mark have been encouraged to first understand the responsibility that comes with carrying the country’s identity on their products.
Founder and Creative Director of Peculiar People, Melusi “Zox” Dlamini, delivered the message on Friday during the MSME Growth Forum and the official presentation of the Made in Eswatini® Definition, where he emphasised that every product bearing the mark becomes a representation of Eswatini and its reputation in the eyes of consumers.
Speaking during the forum, Dlamini said the Made in Eswatini® Mark is more than a branding tool or logo. He described it as a national symbol that reflects the country’s quality, creativity, innovation and manufacturing standards, making it vital for businesses to understand what it stands for before displaying it on their products.
“When you place the Made in Eswatini® Mark on your product, you are saying this product represents Eswatini. Consumers who buy it are not only buying your brand, but they are also buying into the country’s identity,” he said.
Dlamini explained that aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses intending to use the mark should first familiarise themselves with the official Made in Eswatini® Definition to ensure they meet the required standards. He said the mark is reserved for products that genuinely qualify to carry the country’s identity, adding that businesses have a duty to uphold the credibility associated with it.
He noted that every product carrying the mark serves as an ambassador for Eswatini. As a result, he said, the quality of those products will influence how consumers perceive not only individual brands but also the country’s manufacturing sector as a whole.
According to Dlamini, the initiative is expected to strengthen consumer confidence by making it easier to identify authentic locally manufactured products. He added that it will also give businesses a competitive advantage while encouraging emaSwati to support home-grown brands and contribute to the growth of the local economy.
He further encouraged entrepreneurs to embrace the initiative with integrity, saying the value of the mark will depend on how responsibly it is used. He believes that as more qualifying businesses adopt the mark, it will become a trusted symbol of quality, authenticity and national pride.
The Made in Eswatini® Definition and Mark were officially unveiled during the MSME Growth Forum as part of a national drive to promote local manufacturing, encourage consumers to buy locally produced goods and position Eswatini-made products more competitively in regional and international markets.
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(Courtesy Pic)
