BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
MBABANE— Eswatini showcased its growing trade and investment potential at the 14th Nordic-African Business Summit held in Oslo, Norway, where the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), NAMBOARD, and Eswatini Coffee represented the country in a mission to expand export opportunities for local producers.
Hosted by the Norway-African Business Association (NABA), the Summit aimed to unlock trade and investment partnerships between Norwegian companies and African economies.
The participation aligns with Eswatini’s efforts to boost exports, attract investors, and create market opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the country’s economic diversification agenda. It reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing drive to strengthen its global trade presence and build competitiveness through innovation, collaboration, and value addition.
While in Norway, the Eswatini delegation conducted benchmarking visits to retail outlets to study product packaging, marketing approaches, and placement strategies, valuable lessons that will help local exporters tailor their products to meet Nordic market standards.
The initiative was supported by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Government of Eswatini, under the ‘Eswatini: Promoting Growth through Competitive Alliances’ programme. The programme supports smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and artisans in driving export-led growth and competitiveness.
According to Eva-Maria Engdahl, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Eswatini, the mission reflects the EU’s commitment to empowering local businesses. “Our goal is to help Eswatini’s MSMEs compete confidently on the global stage by building connections, strengthening value chains, and opening doors to new markets,” she said.
Organised by NABA in collaboration with Norfund, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nordic-African Business Summit is one of Europe’s leading investor platforms focused on Africa’s economic potential.
Eswatini’s participation underscores its growing confidence in global trade circles and its determination to build a sustainable, export-driven economy.
(Courtesy Pic)
