BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – The Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention Centre (ICC) has landed yet another major continental event, with the 4th African Association of Accountants General (AAAG) Public Financial Management Convention set to take place at the facility from November 30 to December 4, 2026.
According to information shared by the AAAG in its official website, the five-day convention will bring together senior government officials, Accountants General, Auditors General, policymakers, development partners, academics, private sector innovators and public finance practitioners from across Africa and beyond.
The African Association of Accountants-General is a Pan-African organisation established to drive transformation, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability in the management of public resources across the continent.
The Association was officially established in July 2023 and built on the foundation of its predecessor, the East and Southern African Association of Accountants-General (ESAAG). AAAG currently brings together 24 Member Countries.
Held under the theme ‘From Reform to Results: Driving Accountable, Impactful and Resilient Public Finance in Africa’, the convention is expected to feature high-level policy dialogues, technical discussions, exhibitions and networking sessions.
The AAAG event adds to the growing list of major gatherings secured for the ICC since the facility was commissioned earlier this year, strengthening the case that the multi-billion-emalangeni government investment is beginning to attract the high-level international and continental events it was built to host.
The Palazzo hosted the historic Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly and related OACPS meetings, which attracted delegates from OACPS member states and European Union countries. The event also generated knock-on benefits for hotels, transport operators and other service providers, with accommodation establishments reporting strong demand.
Among the major events lined up for the facility was the 2026 Eswatini Investment Conference, which had initially been scheduled for July 29-31. The conference was expected to bring investors, policymakers, financiers and business leaders from across the world to the ICC.
However, the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) deferred the conference following consultations with stakeholders, saying more time was needed to secure the participation of key international speakers and ensure a stronger event. New dates are yet to be announced, meaning the ICC remains in line to host the flagship investment gathering once it is rescheduled.
By July, government had already revealed that nine conferences had been secured for the facility, with reported projections that the ICC could generate between E50 million and E60 million annually.
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