By: Nkosiyabusa Nsibande
Eswatini’s drive to increase exports and position more local businesses in regional and international markets is being held back by critical gaps in the country’s quality infrastructure, with lawmakers hearing that the absence of adequate product testing facilities continues to create barriers for businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises.
This emerged during presentations by the Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Trade, where the institution outlined both its achievements and the challenges limiting its ability to support industrial growth. At the center of the discussion was the country’s limited capacity to test products locally. ESWASA told the committee that while it certifies products and services across multiple sectors of the economy, Eswatini still lacks sufficient testing facilities required to verify compliance with international standards. The authority appealed to Members of Parliament and Senators to support efforts aimed at establishing these facilities, arguing that they are critical for export competitiveness and consumer protection.
The issue has direct implications for the economy. Without local testing infrastructure, manufacturers are often forced to seek testing services outside the country, increasing production costs and extending the time required for products to reach the market. For small businesses operating on thin margins, these costs can become a significant obstacle to expansion.
The authority explained that its role extends beyond product certification. ESWASA works in areas such as consumer protection, international trade facilitation, industrial development, regulatory efficiency, and technology transfer. Through its certification and standards programs, the institution helps businesses align their products with requirements expected in regional and global markets.
Addressing the committee, ESWASA Executive Director Ncamiso Mhlanga said the institution’s mandate goes beyond developing standards. “Its mandate extends beyond developing standards. It is responsible for promoting quality infrastructure, conducting conformity assessments, facilitating certification, and ensuring that products and services available in our markets meet recognized standards of safety, quality, reliability, and performance,” he said.
Food safety remains one of its key focus areas. The authority assesses food products against recognized standards and places certification marks on compliant products, providing assurance to consumers that products meet established quality and safety requirements. Such certification has become increasingly important as local manufacturers seek access to export markets where compliance standards are often stringent.
However, ESWASA emphasised that it operates primarily as a service provider rather than a regulator. The institution conducts voluntary assessments and certification processes, but it does not possess extensive enforcement powers. This limitation was highlighted as one of the legislative gaps affecting the effectiveness of the national quality system.
Mhlanga told the committee that ESWASA’s role is often misunderstood. “ESWASA did not regulate industries directly but worked with regulatory bodies to ensure that their work follows approved standards,” he said, adding that the absence of enforcement powers remains one challenge facing the institution.
The authority told lawmakers that there remains a significant gap in regulating both products and services in the country. While standards may exist, the absence of stronger enforcement mechanisms means compliance often depends on voluntary participation by businesses. Industry stakeholders have long argued that this creates uneven market conditions where compliant businesses compete against operators who may not meet the same quality requirements.
For SMEs, compliance presents another challenge: affordability. The committee heard that many small businesses struggle to finance the certification and product assessment processes required to access formal markets. While certification can unlock commercial opportunities, the associated costs remain prohibitive for many emerging enterprises.
This challenge is particularly significant at a time when the government is placing greater emphasis on SME-led growth and export development. Businesses that fail to meet quality standards often find themselves excluded from procurement opportunities, supermarket supply chains, and export markets.
To address some of these constraints, ESWASA continues to operate the Ingelo Incubation Programme, which supports emerging enterprises over a four-year period. The program is designed to help businesses improve product quality, strengthen operational systems, and prepare for certification and market entry. Mhlanga described the program as a key intervention for emerging businesses. “The Ingelo Certification Scheme is an important initiative that aims to support MSMEs in producing safe, high-quality, and standards-compliant products suitable for both local and regional markets,” he said.
The authority also disclosed that additional funding has been allocated through the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade to support its operations and strategic programs. The funding is expected to strengthen the institution’s ability to assist businesses seeking certification and standards-related services.
The discussion before the committee comes as the government intensifies efforts to expand exports as a key driver of economic growth. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade has repeatedly identified export development as a national priority, particularly through the participation of SMEs in regional and international value chains.
For that strategy to succeed, however, lawmakers were told that strengthening the country’s quality infrastructure will be essential. Improved testing facilities, updated legislation, and broader support for certification could determine whether more local businesses are able to compete beyond Eswatini’s borders.
The committee’s engagement highlighted a growing recognition that standards are no longer merely a compliance issue. They have become a trade and competitiveness issue, with direct consequences for investment, industrialization, and the country’s ability to grow exports in an increasingly demanding global marketplace.
