By: Nkosiyabusa Nsibande
The Siphofaneni Business Forum has taken a significant step towards formalizing its role within Eswatini’s private sector ecosystem after expressing its intention to affiliate with Business Eswatini (BE), a move expected to strengthen the representation, development, and competitiveness of businesses operating in the Lubombo region.
The development emerged from an engagement held in Siphofaneni between Business Eswatini and representatives of the forum, a growing network of 100 entrepreneurs, professionals, and small business owners. The meeting focused on outlining Business Eswatini’s membership requirements, support services, and the process through which the forum can become integrated into the country’s leading private sector representative body.
A key outcome of the discussions was the forum’s request for technical guidance on registering as a formal association. Registration is a prerequisite for collective membership under Business Eswatini and would allow the Siphofaneni Business Forum to participate as a unified voice representing the interests of local enterprises within national business and policy platforms.
The proposed affiliation reflects a broader effort by businesses outside the country’s major urban centres to secure stronger representation in economic and policy discussions while improving access to opportunities that support enterprise growth. During the engagement, forum representatives highlighted their ambition to use Business Eswatini’s platform to strengthen local businesses, promote collaboration among entrepreneurs, and contribute to sustainable economic growth and employment creation within the Siphofaneni area.
Members noted that joining Business Eswatini would provide access to business advocacy services, capacity-building programs, policy and regulatory information, and a broader national network of enterprises. These resources are increasingly important for small and medium-sized enterprises, navigating challenges related to market access, financing, regulatory compliance, and business expansion.
Business Eswatini welcomed the initiative, describing it as closely aligned with its mandate to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which continue to play a critical role in job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic development.
“Business Eswatini believes that national economic growth is ultimately built on thriving local economies. Supporting entrepreneurs in communities such as Siphofaneni strengthens household incomes, creates jobs, and expands opportunities for young people and women-owned enterprises,” a Business Eswatini representative said during the engagement.
The organization further stressed the importance of ensuring that entrepreneurs operating in rural and peri-urban communities are adequately represented in policy processes and are able to access the same business development opportunities available in larger economic centers.”Whether a business employs two people or two thousand, it faces many of the same challenges: access to markets, infrastructure, finance, skills, and a predictable regulatory environment. Business Eswatini’s role is to ensure that these voices are heard and represented,” the representative added.
The discussions concluded with an agreement to explore further areas of collaboration, including membership mobilization, business development support, advocacy initiatives, and programs aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship and investment within the Siphofaneni region. Business Eswatini will provide technical assistance to facilitate the forum’s formal registration process before onboarding it as a member association.
The engagement highlights a growing recognition within Eswatini’s business community that strengthening local enterprise networks is essential for broader economic development. As policymakers continue to emphasize private-sector-led growth, the formal organization of business communities at the local level is increasingly viewed as a critical mechanism for improving access to markets, investment opportunities, business support services, and policy representation.
Business Eswatini remains committed to strengthening partnerships with business associations, sector organizations, and local business forums across the country as part of its broader mandate to promote a competitive, inclusive, and resilient private sector. The planned affiliation of the Siphofaneni Business Forum underscores the important role that organized local enterprise can play in advancing national economic growth and prosperity.
