BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — Eswatini’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Hon. Manqoba Khumalo, has taken center stage in Belgium this week as he attends the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Council of Ministers meeting. The high-level assembly, hosted at the historic Egmont Palace in Brussels, brings together key global leaders to deliberate on trade, economic partnership, and international cooperation.

On the sidelines of the Council of Ministers, Minister Khumalo paid a high-profile courtesy call to the OACPS Head Office. He was warmly received by the newly elected OACPS Secretary-General, His Excellency Moussa Saleh Batraki, along with members of the organization’s senior leadership team.

The meeting focused heavily on advancing economic integration, expanding export-led development, and reinforcing the strategic partnership between Eswatini and the 79-member state OACPS body. Minister Khumalo’s engagement underscored Eswatini’s proactive stance in leveraging global trade frameworks, notably under the Samoa Agreement, to foster local industrial growth, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and elevate the Kingdom’s economic footprint on the global stage.  

During the constructive exchange, Secretary-General Batraki and the OACPS leadership commended Eswatini’s active participation and commitment to regional development initiatives. Both parties reaffirmed their mutual dedication to driving sustainable economic policies and securing favorable market-access arrangements that directly benefit developing nations.

As the Council of Ministers continues its sessions at Egmont Palace, Minister Khumalo’s strategic diplomatic efforts are expected to unlock new avenues of cooperation, reinforcing Eswatini’s trade resilience and its position within the broader African, Caribbean, and Pacific economic alliance.