Sweet victory for ESA at Exporters Awards
The Eswatini Sugar Association was onto something sweet at the Eswatini Exporters Awards as they claimed various awards at the function.
The Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) and Business Eswatini, with support from the USAID Africa Trade and Investment Southern Africa Buyin Activity, have once again hosted the Eswatini Annual Exporter Awards.
The overall winner in the category of Best Global Exporter of the Year was the Eswatini Sugar Association. The runnerup was Montigny Investments followed by TQM, a textile manufacturer, in third place. The export activity being awarded in this category refers to all products exported from Eswatini to any market across the world. Entries were evaluated based on their export activity between April 2022 and March 2023. The Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) is an umbrella organization bringing together all growers and millers of sugarcane. Its highest policy-making body is the Council, where growers and millers have equal representation. The day-to-day functions are run by the ESA office led by a Chief Executive Officer, with its head office located in Mbabane, the Technical Services Department located at Simunye and Big Bend and there is also an ESA warehouse at Mlawula.
ESA is responsible for providing the services necessary for the regulation and general development of the Swazi sugar industry as well as marketing all the sugar and molasses produced in the country. ESA provides support services to the entire industry’s value chain which includes agricultural research and extension, cane testing, warehousing and distribution, marketing, and policy advocacy. ESA continues to strive for quality service in its operations and in meeting customer and stakeholder expectations.
Eswatini Exporters Awards seek to recognize and reward the outstanding performance and noteworthy efforts of local exporters in overcoming market entry barriers and as a result, achieving successful and consistent export trade.
We would like to congratulate Eswatini Sugar Association for winning The Best Global Exporter of the Year Award. Our congratulations are also extended to all category winners and the runners-up. We would like to thank our partners Business Eswatini and the USAID Africa Trade and Investment Southern Africa Buy-in Activity, who have made it possible for us to host these awards
Sibusiso Mnisi, Manager of External Trade at EIPA said, “We would like to congratulate Eswatini Sugar Association for winning The Best Global Exporter of the Year Award. Our congratulations are also extended to all category winners and the runners-up. We would like to thank our partners Business Eswatini and the USAID Africa Trade and Investment Southern Africa Buy-in Activity, who have made it possible for us to host these awards. Participating in and supporting awards such as these forms part of EIPA’s trade mandate which is to stimulate export trade from Eswatini while also stimulating activity in the local trade scene.”
Mnisi added that Export Trade forms a key part of Eswatini’s economic performance every year. “In striving for economic growth, we cannot ignore the markets beyond our borders and the products that we can offer which are well produced by local companies and in demand in these markets. The effort local companies put into getting their goods and services to markets outside of Eswatini cannot be ignored as a result.”
This year’s awards ceremony also included a peer learning activity aimed at helping new and experienced exporters navigate the complexities of exporting to South Africa and the United States.
The peer learning event which formed part of the awards ceremony served as a platform for exporters to share their experiences and identify export opportunities to help new and experienced exporters with navigating the complexities of exporting to South Africa and the United States. Presentations were also made to showcase existing trade support services and programs provided by key stakeholders.
Education
Mnisi concluded by saying the road to becoming an exporter can be challenging, yet it is a step that many have taken and succeeded at. The aim of facilitating a peer education exercise during the awards is to assist those who are in or anticipating entering the export world with first-hand knowledge from those who have done it before. He stated that in awarding those who have already taken the lead and started exporting, they are shining a light on the
excellence that is being demonstrated in Eswatini and using it to motivate others to join in and see how they can also sell their products in a new market.
The companies who have secured top positions at this year’s awards in Eswatini will form part of a regional competition which will see local winners compete against other exporters from the SADC region later this year.
Last year’s winners at the Annual Eswatini Exporter Awards included Montigny Investments, which won the overall Exporter of The Year title. They also won the Exporter of the Year Award – South African Market with the Exporter of the Year – U.S. Market being won by Golden Jubilee Apparels.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS BEST GLOBAL EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
▶ Eswatini Sugar Association Montigny Investments TQM
BEST EXPORTER, SACU
Montigny Investments
Nisela Farms
TQM
BEST EXPORTER TO AFRICAN MARKETS
Coca-Cola Eswatini (CONCO Ltd)
Rhodes Food Group
Mondelez International
BEST EXPORTER TO THE USA UNDER AGOA
Ngwenya Glass
Golden Jubilee
Grand Valley Foods
BEST EXPORTER TO THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) UNDER THE SADC-EU ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPA)
▶ Eswatini Sugar Association Giant Clothing Amarasti
BEST EXPORTER TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
▶ Eswatini Sugar Association
United Plantations
Tintsaba Crafts
BEST EXPORTER TO TAIWAN UNDER THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT (ECA)
Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation
United Plantations
Swazi Secrets
BEST NEW EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Honest Artworks
Eswatini Coffee
Mtrios Artworks
TOP WOMAN EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
Black Mamba
Gone Rural
Mavuso Wangwane
TOP YOUTH EXPORTER OF THE YEAR (1835 YEARS)
Swazi Candles
Smiling Through Farming and Supplies
Honest Artworks