Mbabane – Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo yesterday welcomed two leading African thinkers in intellectual property and branding to a masterclass held in Eswatini.
Dr. Mcleod Sibanda, a noted IP strategist, scholar and former head at the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), spoke on how intellectual property can be used to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and national development.
Brand Africa founder Dr. Thebe Ikalafeng, widely regarded as one of the continent’s top branding authorities, urged participants to see branding as a tool for pride, purpose and global competitiveness. 
Both experts urged EmaSwati to take ownership of cultural products such as emahiya, which are often imported despite their deep local roots. Minister Khumalo responded by committing to support efforts to localise production and encourage citizens to be part of the solution.
