Tr‘adne–eFraniar –ai‘ganianŽ

MBABANE – The 2022 International Trade Fair will not be held again after two years of absence.

This was confirmed by Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority’s (EIPA) Chief Executive Officer, Sibani Mngomezulu on Monday.

This means that the business community will be unable to showcase their products at arguably the country’s biggest annual exhibition event. The trade fair’s traditional venue, which is the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre, currently houses COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms.

About two months remain before the trade fair’s slot in August. Thus far, government has outlined zero plans for its hosting.

“I have just spoken to the principal secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade. We are both of the view that there will be no trade fair this year again,” said Mngomezulu.

This will be the third consecutive year that the country is unable to host the Trade Fair, mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was last hosted in August 2019, before Mavuso was converted into a COVID-19 facility.

Exhibitors from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and other countries from the continent at large have graced the event in the past. Taiwan, which enjoys close ties with Eswatini, was part of the 2019 spectacle.

A trade hub for many local business start-ups and established businesses, the trade fair has been synonymous with the Umhlanga Reed Dance, a cultural event that brings together the best of local maidens for a cultural dance to showcase chastity. The Reed Dance has drawn a number of visitors to the country.

EIPA is a category A public enterprise, tasked with the organisation of the trade fair, annually. Their Majesties attend the event regularly.