By Sifiso Ndwandwe, Executive Director of Sothaba Group and Co-Director of the Family Business Summit
The Family Business Summit 2025 marked a remarkable milestone in Eswatini’s economic story, nearly doubling attendance from its inaugural year. The Summit captured national attention and positioned family enterprises at the center of discussions on growth, continuity, and prosperity.
Government Endorsement: A Strong Signal for Family Enterprises
The Summit was graced by Mluleki Dlamini, Director of MSMEs in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Trade, representing the Minister. His message was clear: family businesses are not only private endeavors but national assets that require supportive policies, access to finance, and the adoption of innovation to ensure their continuity and competitiveness.
This endorsement underscores the recognition by government that family enterprises play a crucial role in job creation, community development, and wealth transfer across generations.
Dynamic Panels: Bridging Local Wisdom and Global Best Practice
The programme brought together a powerful mix of international expertise and local lived experience:
From KPMG South Africa, Alan Barr and Creagh Sudding shared global insights on governance, succession planning, and sustainable growth.
An inspiring talk delivered on behalf of the Managing Director of Standard Bank encouraged participants to pursue continuity, embrace innovation, and build resilience.
On the local front, voices such as Ali Resting (MD, Real Image Internet), Sasha de Sousa (GM, Dups Holdings & Liyandza Family Trust), Dumisani Msibi (Group MD, FINCORP), and Dudu Dlamini (Director, Mbabane Burial Benefit) shared practical lessons of resilience, values-driven decision-making, and generational stewardship.
The panel discussions were highly interactive, sparking robust dialogue with participants on issues such as ethics, partnerships, technology, and the delicate balance of tradition and innovation.
A Call for Shared Learning and Mutual Support
While the statistics are sobering, the atmosphere was not one of despair but of hope and resolve. The Summit emphasized that Eswatini’s family businesses must learn together, support one another, and break down silos.
The message was clear: collaboration, knowledge exchange, mentorship, and co-investment are the pathways to building resilient enterprises that can sustain Eswatini’s economic future.
The Founders’ Commitment
As co-founders of the Family Business Summit, Dr. Skhomba Gumbi and I remain deeply committed to nurturing this vision. The call we extend is simple but profound:
“Building the Economy of Eswatini, one Family Business at a time.”
This vision is not an event-day slogan — it is a long-term commitment to equip, connect, and inspire family businesses to thrive across generations.
Looking Ahead: Bright Prospects for FBS
The doubling of attendance is more than a statistic — it is a signal that family businesses are ready to engage, grow, and lead.
As we look forward to the Family Business Summit 2026 on 20 August, we invite family businesses, partners, and policymakers to stay engaged: through surveys, networking, shared learning, and most importantly, by opening honest conversations within families.
Because the true transformation begins not only at the Summit, but around family tables, in boardrooms, and in the values we pass on to the next generation.
Conclusion
The 2025 Summit has set a new benchmark: greater attendance, stronger voices, and deeper recognition of the role of family businesses in national development. The journey ahead requires courage, collaboration, and continuity.
When family businesses succeed, they create jobs, nurture communities, and strengthen the national economy.
The Family Business Summit is here to champion that journey — one family business at a time.
By Sifiso Ndwandwe
Executive Director, Sothaba Group
Co-Director, Family Business Summit