MBABANE – The upcoming Standard Bank Regional Sugar Summit is expected to serve as a critical platform for industry players to confront structural constraints limiting regional trade and industrialisation.
The summit also seeks to provide a platform for unlocking new opportunities for investment and market expansion across Southern Africa. Set for Friday at Simunye Country Club, the high-level gathering will bring together producers, financiers, policymakers and technical experts at a time when the sugar industry is navigating mounting pressures ranging from climate change to volatile global markets.
The summit, convened by Standard Bank Eswatini, comes against the backdrop of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is reshaping trade dynamics across the continent and placing renewed focus on regional value chains and cross-border competitiveness.
As a multi-billion-Emalangeni contributor to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) economy, the sugar industry remains a key economic driver, supporting livelihoods across farming, milling, logistics and downstream manufacturing.
However, stakeholders have increasingly pointed to structural bottlenecks that continue to hinder the sector’s full potential.
These constraints include inefficiencies in trade corridors, limited value chain integration, exposure to global price shocks and high input costs, all of which are expected to feature prominently in discussions.
Chief Executive of Standard Bank Eswatini, Mvuselelo Fakudze, said the summit is designed to unlock collaboration and innovation across the sugar value chain. “The sugar industry is not merely a commodity sector; it is a powerful engine for inclusive development,” Fakudze said, noting that the platform will focus on strengthening linkages between production, financing and markets.
He added that enhanced coordination within the sector could translate into improved incomes for smallholder farmers, increased employment and stronger rural economies. The 2026 summit programme is structured around three strategic pillars: Value chain integration, climate resilience and market diversification.
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