Matsapha – Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has officially opened the 7th SACCO Indaba, hosted by the Eswatini Association of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (ESASCCO).
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Khumalo commended ESASCCO for its continued leadership in strengthening the SACCO movement through capacity building, stakeholder engagement and the promotion of sound cooperative governance.
Delivering his keynote address under the theme “Empowering Members Through Savings and Cooperative Solidarity for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth,” the Minister said SACCOs are more than financial institutions, describing them as community-based engines of development that enable Emaswati to invest in education, housing, agriculture and small businesses. 
He said SACCOs play a critical role in promoting financial inclusion, supporting entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, empowering communities through accessible savings and credit, and driving inclusive economic growth across the country.
The Minister called on SACCOs to uphold strong governance, transparency and accountability, embrace regulatory compliance to safeguard member funds, leverage digital innovation to enhance service delivery, and strengthen collaboration and solidarity within the sector.
Khumalo urged participants to ensure that discussions at the Indaba translate into practical actions that will strengthen SACCOs and improve services for members.
