Africa-Press – Eswatini. The 2025 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Conference will be translated into actionable outcomes, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo, announced on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, while delivering his closing remarks at the event held at the Royal Villas in Ezulwini.
Minister Khumalo stated that the Ministry would convene key enablers—including government institutions, financial partners, business associations, and development agencies—to ensure that the resolutions from the conference are implemented. He explained that a coordinated roadmap would be developed to remove barriers hindering MSME growth and to accelerate the fulfilment of commitments made during the event.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s strong commitment to supporting MSMEs, emphasising that the sector is central to Eswatini’s inclusive economic transformation. He thanked entrepreneurs, development partners, and government representatives for their contributions, noting that the conference had reinforced the crucial role MSMEs play in driving job creation, fostering innovation, and stimulating national development.
Minister Khumalo highlighted the diversity of participants at the conference, which included representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and key financial and business stakeholders. He expressed appreciation for the collaborative efforts of the Acting Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Mr Phesheya Dube, the UN Resident Coordinator Mr George Wachira, and the EU Charge d’Affaires Mr Jose Becerra Marta in supporting Eswatini’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by MSMEs, Minister Khumalo assured participants that government support would extend beyond the conference. He emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to improving access to finance, fostering a conducive regulatory environment, and expanding both local and regional market opportunities for small businesses.
To address persistent challenges such as delayed payments and limited access to working capital, the Minister announced a reporting platform established through the Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO). The platform allows MSMEs owed payments by government ministries or private sector clients to report cases via WhatsApp at 7602 8830, enabling SEDCO to engage with the relevant line ministries to expedite payments.
In addition, Minister Khumalo highlighted an innovative invoice-financing system introduced by African Alliance to improve MSME cashflow. Under the system, vetted suppliers can receive payment within two business days of issuing invoices, rather than waiting for extended payment cycles. He explained that African Alliance bridges the gap between invoicing and payment at a minimal cost, and that once payment is received, the supplier bears no further obligation should delays or defaults occur.
“This model provides MSMEs with a practical and efficient solution to one of their biggest challenges—access to working capital. It enables businesses to maintain continuity, plan effectively, and sustain operations while awaiting payment,” the Minister said.
Minister Khumalo underscored that the next MSME Conference would focus on reviewing tangible results rather than repeating discussions on the same challenges. “We will hold ourselves accountable to the commitments made here,” he said. “No one should leave feeling that this was just another talk show. Your time, your ideas, and your resilience matter greatly to this nation’s future.”
He encouraged participants to move from dialogue to delivery, from plans to measurable progress, emphasising that Eswatini’s future prosperity depends on a thriving MSME sector capable of fostering innovation, creating jobs, and contributing meaningfully to economic diversification.
“As we leave this conference,” he concluded, “let us do so with renewed energy and determination to build a thriving MSME ecosystem that powers Eswatini’s transformation. Together, we can move from discussion to implementation and from vision to impact.”
The MSME Conference provided a platform for policy dialogue, partnership building, and knowledge-sharing between public and private sector stakeholders. It reaffirmed the pivotal role of small businesses in achieving sustainable economic growth and highlighted government’s continued efforts to remove structural barriers that hinder entrepreneurship in the Kingdom.
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