BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) has officially launched the Export Guide 2025, a powerful new resource designed to support Eswatini businesses in navigating the complexities of international trade.
As the global marketplace becomes increasingly competitive and interconnected, the Export Guide 2025 seeks to simplify the export journey for local businesses—providing a step-by-step framework for companies aiming to expand their operations beyond national borders.
The guide outlines 10 key steps to exporting, offering practical guidance from the early stages of assessing export readiness to the final stages of entering foreign markets. These steps include:
- Assess Export Readiness
- Conduct Market Research
- Develop an Export Plan
- Obtain Required Export Documents
- Consider Shipping & Logistics
- Determine Export Pricing
- Explore Export Finance
- Obtain Customs Clearance
- Mitigate Potential Issues
- Start Exporting
Critically, the guide also details Eswatini’s participation in over a dozen global and regional trade agreements—including SACU, SADC, COMESA, AfCFTA, AGOA, and EU Economic Partnership Agreements—which grant local businesses preferential or duty-free access to markets with a combined population of over 2 billion people.
To complement the guide, EIPA offers a suite of support services to help local exporters succeed. These include export readiness training, access to market intelligence, trade shows, B2B networking events, and resources for navigating standards, customs, logistics, finance, and intellectual property protection.
Thandeka Dlamini, Manager of External Trade Promotion at EIPA, emphasised the importance of the guide:
“Exporting can unlock immense growth opportunities for local enterprises. With the Export Guide 2025, we aim to demystify the export process and empower Eswatini businesses—large and small—to compete and succeed in global markets.”
The Export Guide 2025 is now available for download at https://investeswatini.org.sz/?r3d=export-guide2025.
Businesses interested in export training or support services are encouraged to reach out to EIPA via trade@sipa.org.sz.
