BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE– Eswatini is strengthening its monitoring of regional trade commitments in a move aimed at improving access to regional markets for local businesses and ensuring that the benefits of SADC trade are felt by Emaswati.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade is participating in a two-day workshop on the Validation and Operationalisation of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for Monitoring Compliance under the SADC Protocol on Trade, which runs from 10–11 September 2026.
The M&E Framework will provide a mechanism for assessing whether SADC member states are effectively implementing the trade commitments they have agreed to under the SADC Protocol on Trade.
It will also help identify challenges affecting the implementation of these commitments and provide information that can guide action in areas where improvements are required.
For Eswatini, stronger monitoring of the regional trade commitments could help identify barriers that make it difficult or costly for businesses to access SADC markets and move goods across borders.
This could create more opportunities for Emaswati-owned businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, to sell their products and services in other SADC countries.
Improved access to regional markets could also support the growth of local businesses by giving them access to a larger customer base, while contributing to job creation and wider economic activity.
The framework is further expected to help identify challenges affecting the movement of goods across borders, potentially supporting smoother and more efficient regional trade for businesses and traders.
The workshop is also focusing on strengthening institutional coordination among relevant stakeholders, improving data collection and identifying capacity gaps that need to be addressed for the M&E Framework to function effectively.
Reliable information gathered through the monitoring process will further assist Government in assessing what is working, identifying areas requiring intervention and making informed decisions on regional trade matters.
The initiative therefore goes beyond monitoring compliance with trade agreements, as it seeks to strengthen the implementation of regional trade commitments in ways that can support local businesses, improve market access and contribute to Eswatini’s economic growth.
By strengthening its monitoring and evaluation systems, Eswatini is positioning itself to better identify opportunities and challenges within regional trade and ensure that SADC market opportunities translate into practical benefits for Emaswati and businesses.
#Eswatini #SADC #RegionalTrade #LocalBusinesses #EconomicGrowth
(Courtesy Pic)
