Mbabane- Small businesses and entrepreneurs in Eswatini are set to benefit from easier access to international suppliers as government expands the services of the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation’s (EPTC) courier company, Phutfumani, to simplify cross-border trade and online shopping.
Speaking during the latest edition of Finance in Focus, Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg said the initiative forms part of government’s broader strategy to improve trade logistics and lower the barriers faced by businesses importing goods from South Africa and overseas.
Rijkenberg said Phutfumani is evolving beyond its traditional courier operations into a trade facilitation platform that will assist customers with purchasing goods from online marketplaces and coordinating deliveries from Johannesburg into Eswatini.
He said the expanded service is expected to particularly benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), retailers and entrepreneurs that rely on imported stock but often face logistical challenges when sourcing products from international suppliers.
“We are starting to use Phutfumani more as government. Through EPTC, we have a courier company called Phutfumani, and they do delivery services in Eswatini, competing with other private sector players. They are also starting to help people strategically buy items on online platforms and facilitate deliveries from Johannesburg into Eswatini,” Rijkenberg said.
Government is also strengthening the capacity of Phutfumani South Africa to handle larger international consignments, including containerised cargo arriving from overseas. The move is expected to create a more seamless logistics chain connecting global suppliers with businesses in Eswatini.
Rijkenberg said as the programme is rolled out, importers will have access to an integrated logistics solution capable of managing shipments from international markets through South Africa and into Eswatini.
He expressed confidence that the expanded services would improve the ease of doing business by making imports more efficient and accessible.
“So Phutfumani will continue to roll out its programme, and in time I think it will be very helpful for anyone importing anything into Eswatini to use Phutfumani,” he said.
The expansion comes as businesses increasingly embrace e-commerce and digital procurement, with efficient logistics viewed as a key driver of trade competitiveness, business growth and private sector development in Eswatini.
