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<\/p>\nBy Delisa Magagula<\/p>\n
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has expressed its intention to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the importation of sugar into the country.<\/p>\n
Speaking during the Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) standards seminar at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre, Ministry of Commerce,<\/p>\n
Industry and Trade Director of Trade, Lungile Dlamini, said AfCFTA presented Eswatini with an opportunity to drive self-sufficiency and enhance its competitiveness in the sugar industry.<\/p>\n
The seminar was held on the sixth day of the Eswatini International Trade Fair under the theme \u2018Advancing Business Growth through Standardization and Certification\u2019<\/p>\n
Dlamini told participants that AfCFTA was not only a trade agreement but also a framework through which the country could align its industries for greater production and market access.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must use AfCFTA as a strategic tool to stop importing sugar completely and to strengthen our domestic sector so that it is competitive across Africa,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She explained that while Eswatini is one of Africa\u2019s notable exporters of sugar, the country still imports refined sugar to meet certain domestic needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe paradox is that we are both exporters and importers. This is a gap that can be closed by aligning production processes, standards, and markets under AfCFTA,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The seminar emphasised the role of standards and certification in positioning Eswatini\u2019s products to compete within regional and continental markets. Dlamini said standardization was central to trade facilitation and consumer confidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cA product that meets agreed standards can move across borders without difficulty. This is essential if Eswatini is to seize the full potential of AfCFTA,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The ESWASA Chief Executive Officer, Ncamiso Mhlanga, also addressed the seminar, underlining the importance of compliance.
He said the authority was committed to ensuring that businesses understood certification requirements.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur role is to make sure that when you produce in Eswatini, your product is recognized across Africa for quality and safety. This is what will give our industries a competitive advantage,\u201d Mhlanga explained.<\/p>\n
Eswatini\u2019s sugar industry has long been a pillar of the economy, accounting for about 5 per cent of the country\u2019s GDP and supporting around 20,000 direct jobs.<\/p>\n
However, official figures indicate that Eswatini continues to spend millions on sugar imports. According to FAOSTAT, the country imported 3.23 million kilograms of refined sugar in 2022, valued at US\\$2.62 million.<\/p>\n
Dlamini said reducing this dependence was not just about trade balances but also about industrial transformation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we continue to import what we can produce, we lose opportunities for local value addition and job creation. Our goal is to strengthen domestic refining capacity and ensure that we no longer rely on imports,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Dlamini noted that AfCFTA, which connects 55 African countries into a single market of 1.3 billion people, offered Eswatini new avenues for expanding trade beyond its traditional partners.<\/p>\n
\u201cEswatini\u2019s participation in AfCFTA is about more than exports. It is about positioning our economy to supply domestic and regional demand sustainably,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She highlighted that sugar was only one example of products where import substitution could deliver growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen the potential in other sectors such as textiles, processed foods, and light manufacturing. But sugar is a strategic starting point because of its economic significance and the strength of our industry,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Industry representatives who attended the seminar said the government\u2019s intention to phase out sugar imports aligned with their goals.
During a recent launch of Spotted Horse Rum Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation Director Nick Jackson said the industry was working closely with regulators and trade agencies to expand refining capacity and diversify sugar products.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident that with AfCFTA and the right policy support, Eswatini can fully meet its domestic sugar needs and continue to grow as an exporter,\u201d the Director.<\/p>\n
Small and medium enterprise owners also expressed optimism. One entrepreneur producing sugar-based confectionery products said local sourcing would reduce input costs and improve reliability.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf imports are reduced, it means we can depend more on domestic suppliers. This will strengthen small businesses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Dlamini said government policies, including the AfCFTA implementation strategy and industrial development frameworks, would support the transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to work with producers, regulators, and development partners to ensure that Eswatini can achieve sugar self-sufficiency. Standards, certification, and competitiveness are at the core of this strategy,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
The seminar ended with calls for collaborative efforts among government agencies, private sector players, and consumers to promote the \u2018Made in Eswatini\u2019 label.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Delisa Magagula The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has expressed its intention to leverage the African…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,23,24,25,26],"tags":[46,55,73,49,56,58],"class_list":["post-2656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","category-finance","category-future","category-national","category-swaziland","tag-africa","tag-business","tag-eswatini","tag-human-interest","tag-markets","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n