- Fundraising target set by His Majesty King Mswati III, aimed at completing the five star hotel
- Royal Signature Expo Mega Raffle features a premium prize portfolio valued at E50 million
- 2026/27 National Budget included an additional E100 million to support the operational readiness
BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
EZULWINI — The Royal Signature Expo 2026 has been launched with an E200 million fundraising target set by His Majesty King Mswati III, aimed at completing the five star hotel adjacent to the Eswatini International Convention Centre, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has said.
Speaking at the official launch, Khumalo said the initiative reflects a deliberate national effort to position Eswatini as a competitive investment destination while strengthening its tourism and conferencing infrastructure. He said the Expo has been designed as a curated, high value platform that brings together premium global, regional and local brands within a controlled environment, enabling meaningful engagement between investors, businesses and decision makers.
He emphasised that the Expo is not a conventional trade exhibition, but an intentional convergence of business, investment and diplomacy aligned with national priorities and high level engagements expected during the period. The introduction of the Royal Signature Mega Raffle forms part of a broader framework aimed at mobilising resources to support strategic national projects, including the hotel, which is expected to enhance Eswatini’s capacity to host international conferences and events.
The five star hotel forms part of the wider ICC and hotel complex, a flagship national project that has already cost taxpayers over E7 billion, with total expenditure now estimated to have surpassed E8 billion. Government has allocated an additional E600 million for the 2025 financial year to finalise construction, alongside a further E30 million for operationalisation, with earlier projections targeting completion by October 2025.
The ICC and hotel development has been marked by significant financial escalation since its initial projection of about E370 million in 2012, drawing public attention and parliamentary scrutiny. During recent budget debates in March 2026, Members of Parliament raised concerns over continued funding, with some arguing that the project had become a financial burden and calling for it to sustain itself through revenue generation rather than further government allocations.
Lawmakers have also questioned the need for additional funding, with calls for greater transparency on expenditure and proposals to redirect future allocations toward constituency based micro projects. Despite this, the 2026/27 National Budget included an additional E100 million to support the operational readiness of the ICC ahead of its opening.
In this context, Khumalo said the Expo presents an opportunity to unlock value from the investment already made by attracting private sector participation and enhancing the country’s ability to generate returns from the facility. He said the initiative will position local enterprises alongside established global brands, enabling them to access new markets and improve their competitiveness.
He further noted that the Expo is structured around curated participation, targeted engagement and integrated experience design, ensuring that outcomes are driven by value creation rather than scale alone. The platform is also expected to support Eswatini’s positioning within the global economy by attracting regional and international stakeholders.
Khumalo said the Expo aligns with ongoing efforts to establish the ICC as a world class facility capable of hosting regional and international business, government and investment engagements, reinforcing its role as a central hub for conferencing and economic activity.
He called on investors, entrepreneurs and strategic partners to participate actively, stating that the success of the initiative will depend on strong collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving national development priorities.
The three day Royal Signature Expo is scheduled to take place from 25 to 27 April and is expected to draw a wide range of regional and international stakeholders, further strengthening Eswatini’s positioning as an emerging destination for investment, business and high level conferencing.
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