BY: PHESHEYA KUNENE | EDITOR
MBABANE – Southern Africa’s sugar industry will converge in Eswatini this Friday for a high-level summit aimed at unlocking investment, strengthening regional trade, and repositioning the sector for long-term resilience.
The Standard Bank Regional Sugar Summit, set for May 8 at Simunye Country Club, arrives at a pivotal moment for the industry, as producers confront rising input costs, climate volatility, and shifting global market dynamics that continue to test the sustainability of one of the region’s most valuable agricultural sectors.
As a multi-billion-dollar contributor to the SADC economy, the sugar industry remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and industrial activity, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across farming, milling, transport, and manufacturing. In Eswatini, the sector is a leading export earner and a critical anchor of agricultural GDP.
The summit is expected to move beyond conventional dialogue, focusing on practical mechanisms to unlock capital, enhance productivity, and deepen value chain integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Standard Bank Eswatini Chief Executive Mvuselelo Fakudze said the platform was designed to catalyse transformation across the sector.
“The sugar industry is not merely a commodity sector, it is a powerful engine for inclusive development. This summit is designed to unlock the full potential of the value chain by fostering the collaboration and innovation required to thrive in a shifting global environment,” Fakudze said.
He added that strengthening the sector would have direct socio-economic benefits for emaSwati.
“Stronger collaboration in the sugar sector supports stable livelihoods for farmers, improved incomes for smallholder growers, and sustained employment across the value chain. For emaSwati, this platform enables high-level decisions that strengthen household resilience, drive rural development, and enhance both food and energy security,” he said.
The 2026 programme is anchored on three strategic pillars, value chain integration, climate resilience, and market diversification. These priorities reflect growing recognition that the industry must evolve beyond traditional production models towards a more diversified, technology-driven and sustainability-focused framework.
Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise Dr Samson Sithole welcomed the summit, describing it as a necessary intervention at a critical time for the sector.
“This is a highly commendable initiative that comes at the right time for the agricultural sector, particularly the sugar industry. The challenges we are facing require coordinated, forward-looking solutions, and platforms like this are essential in driving meaningful engagement and actionable outcomes,” said Sithole.
Industry stakeholders say the summit’s emphasis on financing is particularly significant, as access to capital remains one of the key constraints limiting expansion, mechanisation, and climate adaptation across the value chain.
Thabile Maripe said the gathering presents an opportunity to address structural bottlenecks and strengthen competitiveness.
“The summit provides a critical platform for industry players to engage on issues affecting production, trade, and sustainability. It allows us to align on strategies that will enhance efficiency, unlock new markets, and ensure that the sector remains competitive in an increasingly complex global environment,” Maripe said.
High-level panel discussions are expected to interrogate the future of Africa’s sugar value chain, with a focus on unlocking capital flows, improving productivity, and expanding trade corridors. Additional sessions will examine the role of renewable energy, including biomass and co-generation, as well as technological advancements in precision agriculture and water management.
The inclusion of industry leaders, policymakers, financiers, and technical experts reflects a deliberate effort to bridge the gap between policy, finance, and on-the-ground production realities.
As global markets continue to shift and climate risks intensify, the outcome of the summit is expected to shape the strategic direction of the sector, not only in Eswatini but across the broader SADC region.
With just days remaining before the gathering, attention is firmly fixed on whether the platform will deliver the level of coordinated action required to secure the future of one of Southern Africa’s most vital agricultural industries.
