Eswatini, also known as Swaziland, is a small landlocked country in southern Africa and has historically been influenced by regional economic blocs such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC). These blocs aim to enhance economic cooperation among member states through various initiatives like the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the SADC. Qualitative data collection methods were employed to gather insights from government officials, business leaders, and academic experts in Eswatini. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to explore participants' perspectives on regional economic cooperation. Key themes emerged regarding the direction of trade flows towards SADC member states, with a significant proportion (70%) indicating that Eswatini's exports are predominantly directed towards countries within the bloc. This trend suggests enhanced bilateral and multilateral trade relations. Eswatini benefits from regional economic blocs in terms of increased market access and reduced transaction costs, although challenges such as dependency on a few trading partners remain. Future research should focus on diversifying Eswatini's export markets to mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on SADC member states. Policy recommendations include fostering local industries and enhancing the competitiveness of small businesses.
Dlamini et al. (Mon,) studied this question.