IN a significant stride towards actualising the country’s economic transformation goals, Business Eswatini (BE) has appointed a dedicated expert to lead the charge in operationalising the State Business Relations (SBR) Framework.
This strategic move solidifies the private sector’s commitment to driving national growth through structured and effective collaboration with government.
The appointment heralds a new era of proactive engagement, positioning the SBR as a dynamic engine for economic reform.
Following extensive preparatory work by Business Eswatini to establish this vital platform, the organisation is now poised to accelerate progress on key national priorities.
This initiative directly responds to government’s recent high-level commitments to creating a more competitive and investment-friendly Eswatini.
BE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) E. Nathi Dlamini said the urgency and importance of this enhanced collaboration were powerfully underscored in the recent 2026 Cabinet Retreat Declaration.
Under the theme ‘Transforming Eswatini through effective execution’, Cabinet explicitly identified the SBR and the National Competitiveness Council as critical mechanisms for fast-tracking decisions, removing policy bottlenecks and unlocking investment.
This was reinforced by the 2026/27 National Budget, where Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg highlighted a critical phase of economic transformation centred on stronger institutions, private sector growth and vital reforms to improve the investment climate and spur job creation.
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To steer this ambitious agenda, BE has sourced a professional whose qualifications and background are impeccably aligned with the task at hand.
Dlamini said they appointed the new SBR expert Violet Buluma, who brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in fostering public-private dialogue, making her the ideal candidate to bridge the gap between policymakers and the business community.
He said her expertise would be instrumental in translating strategic dialogue into tangible outcomes, ensuring that the SBR platform delivers on its promise to resolve competitiveness constraints and promote sustainable development.
“Government has articulated its ambition for economic transformation, and the private sector is eager to be the driving force behind it. With Buluma’s leadership, we are confident that the SBR will become the primary vehicle for co-creating solutions that unlock investment, remove policy barriers and generate the jobs our nation needs,” said Dlamini.
The SBR framework is designed to provide a consistent and structured platform for public-private dialogue, directly aligning with the national development pillars outlined in the recent Speech from the Throne, which emphasised investment promotion, private sector expansion and job creation.
With the foundational work now complete and a proven expert at the helm, Business Eswatini is sending a clear signal: the private sector is not just a participant in the country’s economic future, but a leading architect.
