BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI – The Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre came alive with movement, colour and anticipation on Friday as businesses and organisations rolled up their sleeves to prepare their exhibition spaces on the opening day of the Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) 2026.
Across the sprawling exhibition grounds, exhibitors could be seen unpacking products, mounting branding material, arranging merchandise and giving their stalls the final touches before welcoming visitors to one of Eswatini’s biggest annual business showcases.
For many exhibitors, particularly small and emerging entrepreneurs, the activity was about far more than simply decorating a stand. It marked the beginning of an important opportunity to place their products and services before a wider audience, meet prospective customers and establish business connections that could extend beyond the Trade Fair.
The grounds steadily transformed as each completed stall added colour and character to the venue.
Established companies, government institutions, organisations and smaller enterprises were all working to ensure that their spaces reflected what they have to offer, giving an early indication of the variety visitors can expect during this year’s exhibition.
For emerging businesses, the Trade Fair provides a valuable platform to move beyond their usual customer base and interact directly with potential buyers, partners and other entrepreneurs.
Face-to-face engagement at such an event can open doors to new markets, business partnerships and greater visibility for locally produced goods and services.
The busy scenes on Day 1 also reflected the wider purpose of the annual exhibition, which continues to bring businesses, institutions, entrepreneurs and consumers together under one roof.
This year’s EITF is being held under the theme “Unlocking Green Economy Opportunities for Sustainable Trade,” placing particular emphasis on environmentally responsible business practices and the economic opportunities that can be created through sustainable development.
The theme comes at a time when businesses across the world are increasingly exploring ways of growing their operations while reducing environmental impact and making better use of sustainable technologies and resources.
As preparations continued, exhibitors moved between their stands making last-minute adjustments, arranging products for maximum visibility and preparing spaces where they will interact with members of the public throughout the Trade Fair.
For some entrepreneurs, participation represents an opportunity to tell the story behind their products and introduce their brands to people who may be encountering them for the first time.
For others, it is an opportunity to strengthen existing customer relationships, demonstrate new products and identify possible partners.
By the end of the first day, the exhibition grounds were steadily taking shape, setting the tone for what is expected to be a vibrant edition of EITF 2026.
With stalls filling up, businesses preparing to engage customers and entrepreneurs positioning themselves to seize new opportunities, Mavuso is once again becoming a meeting point for commerce, innovation and enterprise.
Beyond the displays and colourful stands, the real promise of the Trade Fair lies in the connections that can be created — a customer discovering a local product, an entrepreneur meeting a potential partner, or a small business finding the exposure it needs to take its next step.
As EITF 2026 gets underway, the energy already visible at Mavuso suggests that exhibitors are ready not only to showcase what they have, but also to explore the opportunities that come with being seen, making connections and doing business.
