Small businesses in Eswatini now have a new pathway into formal markets after government on Wednesday opened the country’s first Ingelo Incubation production facility and handed it over to a local achaar producer.

Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo, officially launched the facility and handed the keys to Nozipho Dlamini, owner of Mgemane.

The ceremony was attended by Agriculture Minister Mandla Tsawuka, MP for Mkhiweni Inkhundla, along with officials from ESWASA, SEDCO and other dignitaries.

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The Ingelo facility is part of the Ministry of Commerce and ESWASA’s push to help MSMEs meet product standards, improve quality and access retail shelves without having to build their own factories from scratch.

Minister Khumalo said the facility was designed to solve one of the biggest problems facing small producer which is producing consistently to the standard required by shops and exporters.

He told the gathering that standards-driven production at community level strengthens local businesses, improves product quality and prepares Eswatini-made goods to compete beyond national borders.

“For too long, good products made by our people have stayed out of formal markets because they could not meet certification requirements,” Khumalo said.

The Minister for Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo.

The Minister revealed that Ingelo Certification Scheme has changed that.

“It gives MSMEs shared space, technical support and a clear route to certification,” he said.

The Minister emphasized that the Ingelo Certification Scheme is not just about compliance.

He framed it as a tool for industrialisation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.

While production support is important, Khumalo said the real test will be whether retailers and consumers buy what comes out of Ingelo.

He made a direct appeal to the business community and retailers to stock locally certified goods.

According to him, without reliable markets, MSMEs cannot grow, create jobs, or sustain innovation.

“Access to reliable markets is essential for sustainable MSME growth, job creation, and stronger livelihoods,” he said.

The minister further said that they are asking retailers to actively support certified local products.

“When you buy local, you are investing in jobs and families in your own communities,” said the Minister.

The first business to move in is Mgemane, owned by Nozipho Dlamini.

The company produces achaar and will use the facility to increase output while working toward full certification with Eswasa.

Officials said choosing a food-processing business as the first occupant reflects government’s focus on agro-processing and value addition.

It also shows how a small, home-grown brand can be supported to professionalize without losing its identity.

Dlamini was handed over the facility during the ceremony and toured the production area with the ministers.

Khumalo commended the Eswatini Standards Authority for its work on standards, certification, quality assurance and conformity assessment.

He said Eswasa’s technical role is critical if local products are to gain consumer trust and meet requirements in regional trade.

He also recognized SEDCO for its continued support to MSMEs through training, mentorship, and linking enterprises to finance and markets.

“Partnerships like this are how we move businesses from informal to formal, from survival to growth,” the Minister said.

Khumalo encouraged other MSMEs to approach ESWASA and SEDCO early, saying certification should be seen as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.