AWAZA, TURKMENISTAN – Eswatini is making significant strides toward implementing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), with a strong emphasis on technical assistance and regional cooperation, especially with transit countries like South Africa and Mozambique.
This was revealed by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo during a high-level event at the United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) in Awaza, Turkmenistan.
Multilateral Cooperation Key for Landlocked Countries
Minister Khumalo called for sustained multilateral support to tackle the unique challenges faced by LLDCs. He stressed the importance of building a National Single Window System to streamline trade procedures and reduce cross-border trade inefficiencies.
“We rely entirely on corridors in South Africa and Mozambique. Any inefficiency or policy shift beyond our borders directly affects our trade performance,” he said.
Digital Trade Exclusion Still a Major Obstacle
Khumalo highlighted Eswatini’s digital trade challenges, particularly in rural areas with poor internet access and low digital adoption among SMEs.
“Our underdeveloped services sector shows potential in ICT, tourism, finance and logistics — but these sectors are hindered by regulatory gaps and limited cross-border service delivery,” he added.
Infrastructure and Border Modernisation in Focus
Eswatini is prioritising border post upgrades at Mananga, Ngwenya, and Lavumisa, with a goal to improve connectivity to the Maputo and Durban corridors. A National Single Window System is also under development to digitise customs procedures and facilitate faster, transparent trade.
Boosting Digital Governance and Legal Frameworks
The minister called for support in establishing strong legal and institutional frameworks to govern e-Commerce, data protection, and cybersecurity — critical components for integrating into global digital value chains.
Export Diversification and Investment in Agro-Processing
Eswatini plans to reduce its heavy reliance on sugar, beverages, and textiles by investing in high-value and green economy products.
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To support this, Khumalo pointed to the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) initiative, which streamlines business registration, licensing, taxation, and trade facilitation.
“BOSS reduces bureaucracy and supports our TFA implementation while improving the investment climate and private sector competitiveness,” he said.
