THE country’s business community has expressed its wish for the Head of State to address the challenges faced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), among other key national issues.
While they could not pre-empt what His Majesty King Mswati III would say as he delivers the Speech from the Throne tomorrow during the opening of the Third Session of the 12th Parliament, they said they were in great anticipation.
Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ben Simelane said they wished for policies to be prioritised that would foster a more conducive environment for MSMEs, ensuring inclusive economic growth and protection of indigenous entrepreneurs.
He said these policies must create a balanced, fair and supportive environment, protecting indigenous businesses from unfair competition, improving access to finance and markets, and enhancing the overall resilience of the MSME sector.
Simelane said addressing these key areas would foster inclusive growth, job creation and economic sustainability in Eswatini.
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He said they wished for the King to enforce conditional licensing for foreign entrepreneurs, requiring local partnerships or joint ventures to promote indigenous participation.
He expressed hope that the number of foreign businesses in key sectors would be limited to prevent market encroachment and protect local enterprises.
Simelane added that transparent criteria for foreign investment should be implemented, with emphasis placed on the empowerment and development of local entrepreneurs.
“We also wish to access capital and financial support to establish dedicated MSME-focused financial schemes, including low-interest loans, grants and credit guarantees, to improve access to capital.
We wish for the King to command and facilitate capacity-building programmes that enable MSMEs to meet collateral and creditworthiness requirements, and promote financial literacy programmes tailored for MSMEs to improve their ability to access and utilise credit effectively,” said Simelane.
He also called for support of indigenous entrepreneurs and local content through enforcement of the ‘Nkwe’ mandate under the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act.
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He said targeted programmes should be launched to promote local ownership, including preferential procurement policies for citizen-owned MSMEs, encouraging local sourcing requirements for government and large private sector contracts, and providing training and mentorship programmes aimed at building the capacity of indigenous MSMEs.
The organisation also expressed hope for the introduction of social protection programmes such as cash transfers or subsidies to ensure vulnerable MSMEs have access to basic inputs such as electricity and water, while increasing disposable income among lower- and middle-income households.
Simelane said they hoped for a command promoting consumer confidence campaigns to stimulate demand for MSME products and services, supporting local MSMEs through government procurement policies that prioritise indigenous businesses and ensure payments are made monthly.
He further suggested strengthened policies offering tax incentives or rebates for MSMEs adopting technology, innovation and quality standards, while facilitating access to business development services, including marketing, digital transformation and export readiness.
“We wish for policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement that institutionalises regular consultations with MSME associations, indigenous business groups and other stakeholders to ensure policies are responsive and effective, and to establish a dedicated MSME support council or task force to oversee implementation and monitor progress.
Monitoring and data collection is also important, hence the need to invest in comprehensive data collection and research to understand MSME challenges deeply and tailor policies accordingly. Evidence-based approaches could be used to evaluate the impact of interventions and refine strategies over time,” stated Simelane.
