BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI– Government has started laying the groundwork to transform the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre into a permanent, year-round hub for trade, commercial activity and technological innovation.
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said the move follows a directive by His Majesty King Mswati III during the official opening of the 58th Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF) 2026.
Khumalo said the King had called for the Trade Fair to continue growing bigger and better for future generations, while also articulating a vision for Mavuso to become a permanent centre of trade and economic activity.
He said the King had further directed Government to move away from short-term solutions such as event tents and instead invest in permanent exhibition infrastructure. “This is a clear call for long-term thinking and capital investment,” Khumalo said.
He assured Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini that the Ministry, working closely with the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), had already started laying the groundwork to advance the implementation of the directive.
Developing permanent infrastructure at Mavuso would help ensure that the facility supports economic activity beyond the annual Trade Fair. The Minister said the vision could position Mavuso as a platform for continuous exhibitions, business networking, commercial activity and technological innovation.
Khumalo also linked the development to Government’s broader efforts to attract responsible and sustainable investment. He revealed that the new EIPA legislation incorporates an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework, which requires investors to consider long-term sustainability indicators alongside financial returns.
He said this strengthened Government’s commitment to ensuring that investment contributes to economic development while protecting the environment. The Minister said EITF 2026 had demonstrated that the green economy was already creating opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs and communities.
He cited waste management, biogas, recycling and upcycling initiatives showcased during the Trade Fair as examples of practical green economic opportunities. Khumalo also called on financial institutions and Development Finance Institutions to support this transition by ring-fencing funding for green ventures and sustainable enterprise growth.
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