Mbabane – The Eswatini Standards Authority (ESWASA) and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday to strengthen collaboration on quality standards, capacity building, and access to international markets.
The agreement seeks to improve the competitiveness of Eswatini’s products regionally and globally. SABS, with more than 80 years of experience, will share expertise with ESWASA, founded in 2007, to accelerate standards development and enhance industrial growth.
ESWASA Executive Director Ncamiso Mhlanga described the MoU as a strategic milestone. “This is a very important MoU that will shape our future collaboration as institutions. It will allow us to leverage their extensive experience and ensure that we can work together effectively,” he said. 
The partnership targets key areas, including joint training programs for local industries, particularly in Matsapha, to improve quality management and standards compliance. It also addresses the shortage of accredited testing laboratories in Eswatini, enabling local businesses, especially SMEs, to certify products efficiently for export.
“Delays in product testing are a significant bottleneck for SMEs trying to enter international markets,” Mhlanga said.
The MoU also aligns Eswatini with international standards frameworks such as ISO and IEC, giving local firms access to global best practices. ESWASA will benefit from mentorship and technical support to ensure that local standards meet international benchmarks.
Currently, Eswatini has just over 500 established standards compared with South Africa’s more than 20,000. Mhlanga noted, “We do not need to reinvent the wheel. We can build on what has already been developed and adapt it to our local context.”
Acting CEO of SABS, Blake Mosley-Lefatola, said the MoU is supported by a detailed implementation plan. “Dedicated technical committees have been established to oversee execution, with a six-month review timeline set to assess progress. The intention is to make sure that enterprises in Eswatini truly gain from this MoU,” he said.
The three-year agreement will be reviewed for effectiveness before any renewal. Both institutions noted that knowledge and best practices will flow in both directions, benefiting industry on both sides of the border.
“This collaboration will also enrich us through shared learning,” Lefatola added.
