BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – Business Eswatini (BE) Vice President Anthony Geldard has said that trust, fairness, and accountability are at the heart of business growth, describing 2025 as a year of learning, resilience, and institutional maturity.
He highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between business, organised labour, and government in ensuring a stable and productive economic environment.
Speaking at the Private Sector Contemplations event on Wednesday January 14,2026 at the Business Eswatini War Room under the theme “King, Country and Business,” Geldard said the year was marked not by dramatic changes, but by steady engagement, dialogue, and deliberate action that strengthened the private sector’s contribution to national development.
“As an organisation, we remained focused on representing business interests, promoting dialogue, and contributing meaningfully to the national economic conversation,” he said. “Our partnerships with organised labour and government remain central to creating an environment of trust, fairness, and mutual accountability the very foundation for business growth.”
He praised organised labour for its continued commitment to dialogue, noting that industrial relations are a cornerstone of a harmonious and competitive business environment. “The past year tested the balance between business sustainability and workers’ welfare, but through constructive engagement, BE consistently advocated for stability, predictability, and cooperation,” Geldard said.
Sound industrial relations, he emphasised, are critical not only for domestic stability but also for international market access initiatives such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). “Businesses can only grow and create jobs when trust, fairness, and accountability guide interactions across all social partners,” he added.
Looking ahead to 2026, Geldard said prudence and collaboration would remain essential. “Our reflections from 2025 give us confidence that continued good-faith engagement with stakeholders will allow us to overcome challenges, create jobs, and strengthen Eswatini’s economy,” he said.
He concluded by thanking BE members, the Board, and the Secretariat for their dedication. “Together, we remain focused on building a stable, competitive, and inclusive business environment for the Kingdom. 2026”.
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