MBABANE – Once again, Eswatini is intensifying efforts to attract large-scale investment projects as part of a deliberate strategy to accelerate economic growth and transform the country’s industrial landscape.
This drive was reaffirmed by Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini during the official launch of the second edition of the Eswatini Investment Conference 2026, held at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini yesterday.
Addressing government officials, business leaders, development partners and members of the media, the prime minister said the country was now actively pursuing mega investment projects capable of significantly expanding the national economy.
Central to this push is the vision articulated by His Majesty King Mswati III during the opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth Parliament, where the Monarch called for bold and deliberate economic targets.
“It is time we set deliberate targets, aiming for at least 10 companies with a minimum of E10 billion annual turnover across different sectors. This would give our economy the much-needed boost,” the King declared during the parliamentary address.
Prime Minister Dlamini said government had embraced this directive as a national priority and was aligning investment promotion initiatives with the ambition of building globally competitive enterprises within the kingdom.
Guided by this vision, he explained that government now seeks to attract and support mega investment projects that can propel the country towards its long-term economic aspirations.
“Guided by this vision, we have embraced this pronouncement as an urgent national imperative under the nkwe framework, through which we seek to attract and support mega investment projects capable of propelling our economy towards its desired destination,” said Dlamini.
The prime minister described the Eswatini Investment Conference as a critical platform within a broader national programme aimed at revitalising economic growth in line with the Sibaya aspirations and the Nkwe Programme of Action.
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Industrial parks across 4 regions
MBABANE – Among the key initiatives expected to feature prominently during the upcoming conference is the planned rollout of industrial parks across all four regions of the country.
The Prime Minister, Russell Mmiso Dlamini, said the development of these industrial zones would play a crucial role in accelerating inclusive and decentralised industrialisation.
“These parks will play a vital role in accelerating inclusive, decentralised industrialisation and in creating sustainable employment opportunities for our people,” he noted.
The initiative is also expected to stimulate regional economic development, support small and medium enterprises and strengthen value chains across key sectors.
Government believes the industrial parks will help position Eswatini as a competitive investment destination by providing modern infrastructure and dedicated zones for manufacturing and industrial activities.
Dlamini stressed that attracting mega investment projects requires a supportive policy environment and efficient institutional frameworks.
He said government, through mechanisms such as the National Investment Council established under the New Investment Policy, would work to eliminate obstacles that hinder major investment projects.
“In this regard, government will work diligently to remove obstacles that may stand in the path of these mega projects,” he said.
“Our goal is to create an enabling environment where transformative investments can take root and thrive.”
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Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini (L) and Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo. (Pic: Nhlanganiso Mkhonta)