BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) has officially released its 2026 International Trade Shows Calendar, a strategic tool aimed at increasing the participation of local businesses in global and regional markets.
The calendar, titled “An Expo Radar for Eswatini’s Traders”, provides a curated list of international and regional trade exhibitions scheduled for 2026, targeting key sectors such as food and beverages, agriculture, textiles and apparel, manufacturing, handicrafts, and multi-sectoral trade.
Speaking on the initiative, Thandeka Dlamini, Manager for External Trade Promotion at EIPA, said the calendar was developed to ensure that Eswatini’s traders are informed, prepared and strategically positioned to access export markets.
“International exhibitions remain one of the most effective platforms for showcasing products, building buyer relationships, benchmarking against competitors, and securing long-term commercial partnerships,” Dlamini said.
Key Trade Shows Featured in the 2026 Calendar
Food and Beverage Exhibitions
• AFAS Food Product Fair – Turkey
• Indusfood – India
• SIAL – France
• Taipei International Food Show – Taiwan
Textile and Apparel Trade Shows
• Leading textile and apparel exhibitions in Germany
• Textile and fashion trade shows in Japan
• Apparel and accessories exhibitions in England
• Textile and garment expos in Taiwan
Agriculture and Agro-Processed Goods
• Agriculture and processed food exhibitions in Turkey focusing on value-added exports
Creative, Craft and Design Markets
• Surajkund International Crafts Mela – India
• Kamers Makers – South Africa
• Paris Design Week – France
Multi-Sectoral and General Trade Fairs
• Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)
• SAITEX – South Africa
• FACIM – Mozambique
• Eswatini International Trade Fair
Dlamini explained that these exhibitions were selected based on market intelligence, sector relevance and potential partnership support, including sponsorship opportunities where available.
“Participation in international trade shows gives Eswatini exporters international brand visibility and access to real-time market intelligence such as pricing trends, packaging standards and buyer preferences,” she said.
The calendar also highlights future strategic events beyond 2026, including:
• Intra-Africa Trade Fair 2027 – Lagos, Nigeria
• EXPO 2027 – Belgrade, Serbia
EIPA has encouraged businesses across all sectors to utilise the calendar as a planning tool for product development, compliance readiness and timely registration. While the Authority clarified that the calendar is not exhaustive and that not all exhibitions receive EIPA sponsorship, it reaffirmed its commitment to supporting export-led growth.
Through targeted export promotion and coordinated participation in global exhibitions, EIPA continues to strengthen Eswatini’s trade footprint and enable local businesses to compete effectively on the international stage.
