Mbabane – The second edition of the Eswatini Investment Conference (EIC), which was scheduled for the Ezulwini Palazzo ICC on July 29-31, has been postponed twice this year, but the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Trade has promised sponsors and paying attendees that it will be held early in 2027.
Sibani Mngomezulu, CEO of the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), stated during a press conference on Tuesday that a decision had been made to postpone the event because key international panelists and speakers could not confirm availability, among other factors, with new dates of the conference to now proceed early next year to be revealed later.
“The investment promotion authority has been actively engaged in the preparation for the Eswatini Investment Conference 2026,” he said, adding that since the first EIC last year, there has been a great deal of interest from both domestic and international sources to attend. A combined E37 billion in investment commitments were made last year. 
The ceremony was delayed from May of this year, and His Majesty King Mswati III was expected to attend on July 29, according to an earlier report. Mngomezulu reassured people who had already reserved seats at the opulent Ezulwini Palazzo that they didn’t need to worry.
“Those who registered for the conference comprise investors, companies, institutional investors, and policymakers and financiers, including speakers and conference delegates from all over the world. They are advised that the conference remains a fundamental and strategic imperative for attracting and stimulating investment to Eswatini in line with the government’s programme of action,” he said.
According to EIPA, they had to “carefully” contact important stakeholders and make considerations before deciding “to defer the conference to a date yet to be announced”, despite the fact that preparations to host the conference were far advanced.
According to EIPA, holding the investment conference is still a top goal. According to Mngomezulu, the EIC has the potential to significantly improve investor trust and establish Eswatini as an investment destination.
“All existing partnerships, sponsor commitments and all registrations that have already been made for the conference will be carried forward.
“Our organisation, the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority, backed by the government, remains confident that the strong interest we’ve seen and the support that stakeholders have demonstrated, including our partners, will contribute to an even more impactful platform for attracting investments for the economic development of the kingdom,” EIPA’s Mngomezulu said.
In order to link investors, innovators, project promoters, and policymakers to support sustainable economic growth, EIPA expressed continued optimism that the investment conference will grow in size and quality.
The government is still being closely consulted by the investment conference organising committee, according to EIPA, which also stated that updated dates will be posted on their website.
