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MBABANE – Eswatini’s drive to produce its first liSwati billionaire businessperson is gaining momentum, with the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (EYA) National Gala Dinner set for next Wednesday, October 22.
The announcement was made yesterday by the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, during a press briefing held at the ministry’s headquarters.
He revealed that the highly anticipated national event will be graced and officiated by His Majesty King Mswati III, who first declared in 2023 that it would one day be pleasing to award a Liswati entrepreneur whose business had reached an E1 billion turnover.
“The entrepreneur of the year awards gala is more than just an awards ceremony; it is a profound declaration of our national commitment to His Majesty’s vision for Eswatini’s economic transformation,” said Khumalo.
“We are actively working towards producing the first liSwati billionaire business, and our entrepreneurs are the architects of that dream.”
The minister described the national gala as the grand finale of a rigorous process that has recognised entrepreneurial excellence across all four regions of the country.
Through the EYA, outstanding business innovators, risk-takers and job creators are honoured for their contributions to the economy.
Hosted and managed by the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO), the awards platform also serves as a launchpad for emerging innovators who go on to compete at major events such as the Eswatini International Trade Fair, the World Expo and regional exhibitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
“The EYA not only recognises best performers, but also unearths unknown innovators and products that have the potential to compete on the international stage,” Khumalo added.
Full article available in our publication.
Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo. (R) Small Enterprises Development Company Chief Executive Officer Khethiwe Mhlanga (L) and MSME Director Mluleki Dlamini. (Pic: Nhlanganiso Mkhonta)