Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini Coffee has taken a bold step onto the regional stage, receiving a warm welcome in Kenya through a promising cross-border partnership facilitated by the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA).
The collaboration, which pairs the local coffee trader with Kenyan enterprises Sumseron Coffee and Café AMKA, aims to introduce Eswatini Coffee to the Kenyan market, opening new avenues for trade and economic growth.
The initiative follows EIPA’s participation in the 18th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition, where local businesses engaged with regional players to explore opportunities for collaboration and expansion. The partnership marks a significant milestone for Eswatini Coffee, which recently won Best Emerging Exporter at the Eswatini National Export Excellence Awards 2025, reflecting its growing reputation for quality and innovation.
A key highlight of the partnership was a coffee brewing and tasting session in Nairobi, hosted by Café AMKA and Sumseron Coffee. EIPA officials were treated to Eswatini Coffee’s distinctive flavour and aroma, while also celebrating Kenya’s rich coffee heritage. The exchange exemplified a fusion of African craftsmanship and enterprise, highlighting how regional collaboration can strengthen trade ties and cultural exchange.
Thandeka Dlamini, Manager: Export Trade at EIPA, described the partnership as a demonstration of the organisation’s mandate to attract, promote, and facilitate trade and investment that contributes to Eswatini’s economic growth.
“By connecting Eswatini Coffee with established players in Kenya’s world-renowned coffee industry, EIPA is opening new export opportunities for local businesses, empowering them to scale up production and compete in regional value chains,” she said.
The success of Eswatini Coffee is underpinned by growing national interest in the crop as a potential driver of economic diversification. On September 9, 2025 (which was a Tuesday), Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini visited Jimma District in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region — widely recognised as the birthplace of coffee — to study sustainable coffee farming practices and explore how lessons from Ethiopia could be applied in Eswatini.
Accompanied by Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, the Prime Minister witnessed how Jimma’s thriving coffee sector generates income, creates employment opportunities for youth, and integrates agroforestry and diversified farming methods.
“Jimma is the cradle of coffee, and we witnessed firsthand how coffee growing sustains livelihoods, especially for young people,” the Prime Minister said.
“The integration of agroforestry and diversified farming shows how coffee production can be both economically and environmentally sustainable.”
Dlamini had gone to Ethiopia to participate in the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2). He also participated in the official opening of the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD), and took part in a detailed tour of the country’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector and coffee-producing regions.
The insights from Ethiopia have reinforced government efforts to position coffee as a strategic agricultural sector in Eswatini, with potential to create jobs, foster entrepreneurship, and boost export revenue. The Prime Minister emphasised that Eswatini has the resources and climate suitable for coffee cultivation and called for investment, skills development, and innovation in the sector.
The Kenya partnership now provides a practical platform to translate these ambitions into tangible results. By linking Eswatini Coffee with established regional players, local producers gain access to new markets, technical expertise, and exposure to international quality standards. Analysts note that developing a competitive coffee industry could diversify Eswatini’s agricultural base, reduce import reliance, and create pathways for youth employment.
Dlamini concluded:
“While EIPA’s facilitation was instrumental in establishing this connection, the sustainability and growth of the partnership now rest in the hands of the collaborating coffee businesses. This initiative demonstrates how intra-African trade can unlock mutual economic benefits by driving market access, cultural exchange, and business innovation across the continent.”
As Eswatini Coffee brews its way into regional recognition, it signals the Kingdom’s growing potential in the coffee industry and highlights the power of strategic partnerships, innovation, and knowledge exchange in transforming national agricultural ambitions into sustainable economic growth.
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