BY THEMBA ZWANE
MPOLONJENI – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has commended the Government of Eswatini for demonstrating strong leadership in promoting the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), saying its continued investment in production infrastructure is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs and accelerating the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking during the official opening of the Ingelo Certification Scheme production cottages at Motshane Production Facility in Mpolonjeni Inkhundla on Thursday, July 30, UNDP Resident Representative Henrik Franklin praised the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, the Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) and the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) for driving an initiative that is strengthening local enterprise development.
Franklin singled out Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo for championing MSME development, noting that the Motshane facility was the third production cottage the minister had officially opened within a month.
“This is the third production cottage that the minister has officially opened within a space of a month and that demonstrates his commitment to the cause of supporting MSMEs and contributing to Eswatini’s economic growth,” Franklin said.
He said the facilities would enable entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their products, compete more effectively and confidently access formal markets.
The UNDP Resident Representative described the initiative as a practical example of Government’s commitment to building a stronger economy through enterprise development.
“For UNDP, this is the kind of development partnership we are proud to support – practical, local and directly connected to economic transformation,” he said.
Franklin said the project aligned closely with the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting decent work, economic growth, industrialisation, innovation and responsible production while creating sustainable livelihoods for communities.
He also praised Government institutions for taking the lead in implementing the programme, saying while UNDP had provided technical support to strengthen production systems and quality management, the credit belonged to the Government and its implementing partners.
“We are pleased to have contributed through technical support to help MSMEs improve their production systems, strengthen quality management and prepare for certification. But the real leadership belongs to Government, ESWASA, SEDCO and, most importantly, the entrepreneurs themselves,” he said.
Franklin noted that the Ingelo Certification Scheme addresses one of the biggest obstacles facing small businesses by helping them transition from informal production to certified, market-ready enterprises.
He said quality standards and certification were essential for MSMEs seeking to access supermarkets, hotels, institutional procurement opportunities and broader value chains.
“They are not just technical requirements. They are bridges between small producers and bigger opportunities,” he said.
The UNDP official also welcomed the shared-use model adopted for the production cottages, saying it would allow many entrepreneurs to benefit from the facilities over time while promoting sustainability, fairness and inclusive local economic development.
He said the production cottages had the potential to help businesses move from survival to growth by providing an environment where quality, discipline and innovation could thrive.
Franklin reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting Eswatini’s development agenda, describing MSMEs as the backbone of a more inclusive and competitive economy.
“When small enterprises are supported with the right infrastructure, skills, standards and market access, they become engines of industrialisation, job creation and local value addition,” he said.
He concluded by expressing confidence that the production cottages would become centres of excellence that would produce businesses capable of supplying national markets and eventually exporting Eswatini-made products across the region and beyond.
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