Business
Sector Breakdown – How E37 Billion in New and Expansion Projects Will Transform Eswatini
In Eswatini’s inaugural Investment Conference, 11 cornerstone projects totaling E37 billion were unveiled. Below is a sector-by-sector look at the investments set to drive growth and job creation: # Investor/Company Sector Project Description Value Status 1 Ubombo Sugar Ltd. Agriculture & Energy Expand sugar mill to absorb additional cane from LUSIP II; add biomass cogeneration [ ]
In Eswatini’s inaugural Investment Conference, 11 cornerstone projects totaling E37 billion were unveiled. Below is a sector-by-sector look at the investments set to drive growth and job creation:
| # | Investor/Company | Sector | Project Description | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ubombo Sugar Ltd. | Agriculture & Energy | Expand sugar mill to absorb additional cane from LUSIP II; add biomass cogeneration | E2.1 billion | Expansion |
| 2 | RES Corporation | Agriculture, Energy & Manufacturing | Upgrade sugar mills and lands; generate own power; produce retail alcohol & fuel ethanol | E11.2 billion | Expansion |
| 3 | African Alliance Group | Multiple sectors | Processing, residential & commercial property development | E13.3 billion | New projects |
| 4 | Kellogg Tolaram | Food Processing | Eswatini Noodle Plant Phase 2: add a flour-processing facility | E310 million | Expansion & new |
| 5 | Big Bend Textiles | Manufacturing | Build a cotton ginnery & spinning mill for fabric & textile production | E4 billion | New project |
| 6 | Magomba Mining | Energy & Mining | Anthracite coal mining operation with renewable energy generation | E1.4 billion | New & expansion |
| 7 | FZ Capital | Multiple sectors | Establish a corporate SEZ (Special Economic Zone) and offshore banking hub | E1.5 billion | New projects |
| 8 | Voltalia | Renewable Energy | Install a 15 MW solar photovoltaic plant | E450 million | New project |
| 9 | Sturdee Energy | Renewable Energy | Install a 30 MW solar photovoltaic plant | E750 million | New project |
| 10 | African Food Security | Cash-crop & Agro-processing | Develop cash-crop farms and build agro-processing facilities | E1 billion | New project |
| 11 | Nsimbi | Metal Recycling | Build a metallurgical recycling plant | E1 billion | Expansion & new |
Key Takeaways by Sector:
- Agriculture & Agro-processing: E13.2 billion in expansions at Ubombo Sugar and RES Corporation promise higher yields and value-added production, while African Food Security’s new facilities will strengthen food-value chains.
- Manufacturing & Textiles: Big Bend Textiles’ E4 billion investment and Kellogg Tolaram’s Phase 2 upgrade will modernize local processing capabilities, creating skilled jobs.
- Energy & Mining: Magomba Mining’s integrated approach to anthracite extraction and renewable power, backed by Voltalia and Sturdee Energy’s combined E1.2 billion in solar projects, underscores Eswatini’s pivot toward a low-carbon future.
- Finance & Services: FZ Capital’s SEZ and offshore banking hub, plus African Alliance Group’s mixed-use developments (E13.3 billion), signal growing confidence in Eswatini as a regional finance and real-estate centre.
- Recycling & Sustainability: Nsimbi’s E1 billion metallurgical recycling plant will boost circular-economy efforts, reduce import dependence, and create green-tech opportunities.
Next Steps:
Government has pledged fast-track approvals, dedicated infrastructure corridors, and targeted skills-training programs—ensuring these projects translate into tangible economic growth and over 10,000 new jobs in the coming years. With these foundation investments in place, Eswatini is poised to chart a new chapter of diversified prosperity.