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For the first time, Eswatini's most investment-ready enterprises pitched directly to international impact investors, and the results exceeded expectations on both sides.

For three days in March 2026, Eswatini became a live pitch room. Five investment-ready enterprises – Luna Hair & Body, Eswatini Foods, Beef Boys, Ngwenya Glass, and Black Mamba – hosted site visits from regional and international impact investors. They opened their books, their facilities, and their ambitions to capital providers seeking exactly what Eswatini had to offer. Beyond the site visits, investors met with government officials, financial institutions, and ecosystem players – building a full picture of Eswatini's regulatory environment, financial landscape, and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The Eswatini Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME) Investment Roadshow, held from 3 to 5 March 2026, was the first of its kind in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Convened by the European Union and the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the Government of Eswatini, the Roadshow brought five impact investors offering funding schemes ranging from $50,000 to $3 million. They came from South Africa, Belgium, and Ghana for an immersive, curated programme of site visits, bilateral meetings, policy dialogue, and ecosystem engagement.

The event built on groundwork laid at the inaugural MSME Conference in November 2025, which explored alternative financing for small businesses. A panel discussion at that conference featured impact investor Unconventional Capital and the East Africa Venture Capital Association. They introduced Eswatini's business community to emerging instruments: blended finance, revenue-based financing, digital credit scoring, and mobile money lending. These offerings meet small businesses where they are, rather than where traditional banks expect them to be.

The three days produced concrete results. By the end of the programme, one company had received an initial investment commitment after its site visit. Several others had started early-stage investment discussions. Multiple investors confirmed plans to return – some looking to work through local financial institutions and invest larger amounts – a sign that interest in Eswatini extends well beyond the five companies visited.

Speaking at the welcome reception, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo highlighted the deliberate focus on small businesses as central to addressing economic inequality. 

‘The wealth in Eswatini is concentrated on a few, and we see MSME development as one of the key solutions to this particular problem,' he said, welcoming impact investors as partners in closing that gap.

Principal Secretary Ambassador Melusi Masuku offered a direct message: ‘Eswatini is open for business. We are safe and stable. Our Kingdom is a haven of peace and stability in a complex world.'

The roadshow marks an inflection point: the moment Eswatini moved from describing its investment potential to demonstrating it.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

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The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) has formally submitted its application to be admitted as amicus curiae in a landmark advisory proceeding before the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, marking a strategic step to ensure Africa's energy priorities are represented in a case with far-reaching implications for the continent.

The case, initiated by the Pan African Lawyers Union, seeks to clarify the legal obligations of African states in addressing climate change under regional human rights frameworks. While the request underscores Africa's vulnerability to climate impacts, it also raises critical questions about how such obligations could be interpreted in practice – particularly in relation to energy development, industrialization and economic growth.

The request asks the Court to clarify a range of issues, including state obligations to address climate impacts, protect vulnerable populations, implement mitigation and adaptation measures, and ensure accountability in energy policy and development decisions. Engagement from African states and stakeholders has been uneven, raising concerns that outcomes may not fully reflect the continent's priorities.

For the AEC, the stakes are significant. Across the continent, there is growing concern that climate-related litigation and advocacy – often funded or guided by foreign NGOs – has sought to block financing or development of African energy projects. Recent examples include lawsuits challenging funding for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, gas development in Mozambique by Total Energies and aggressive litigation in South Africa targeting oil and natural gas exploration. The Chamber believes African voices must lead the conversation.

“We would have preferred a dialogue led by Africans on this matter,” says NJ Ayuk, AEC Executive Chairman. “Africa must not be a passive participant in decisions shaping its energy future. Our application ensures the voices of African countries, their industries and citizens are heard. Climate policy must reflect not only environmental priorities, but also the fundamental right to development and energy access.”

Africa accounts for a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet remains the most energy-poor region in the world. More than 600 million people still lack access to electricity, while clean cooking solutions remain out of reach for hundreds of millions more. In this context, the AEC maintains that oil and gas resources will continue to play a vital role in enabling industrialization, job creation and economic resilience.

Through its submission, the Chamber aims to provide the Court with sector-specific insights on the intersection of climate change, human rights and energy development. In particular, the AEC emphasizes the importance of a balanced and inclusive energy transition, incorporating hydrocarbons alongside renewable energy solutions.

The advisory opinion comes amid a broader global trend of climate-related litigation, reinforcing the need for African institutions to actively engage in shaping legal frameworks. Ensuring that African perspectives and priorities are central to these debates is critical to achieving outcomes that are fair, equitable, and aligned with the continent's development ambitions.

“As a continent, we must lead this debate with clarity and conviction,” Ayuk added. “Decisions made today will shape Africa's energy future for generations. Africa deserves a framework that protects its right to develop, ensures energy access and addresses climate challenges in a fair, pragmatic way – without undue influence from foreign actors or NGOs.”

The Chamber's engagement marks the start of a broader effort to inform, mobilize and align stakeholders across the continent, helping to safeguard Africa's right to responsibly and sustainably develop its energy resources.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.