Indalo Exhibition Returns in 2026, Showcasing Eswatini MSMEs After Paris and Local Debut

The exhibition is part of the “Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances”programme, supported by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Eswatini Government. The programme promotes inclusive trade and the growth of the creative industries. 

The exhibition, which will be part of the 50^th Anniversary of EU-Eswatini partnership, will be open to the public from May 1 to 8, 2026 at Alliance Française de Mbabane.

ITC

The name Indalo, drawn from siSwati, speaks to both nature and creation, a fitting reflection of what the exhibition represents. It is where heritage meets fresh thinking, and where local craftsmanship is reimagined for today’s market through collaboration with international designers. 

This year’s exhibition features a strong collective of Eswatini MSMEs, each with their own story and craft:

• Master Artworks, known for its handcrafted ceramic pieces rooted in Swazi tradition.

• Malolotja Handcraft, specialising in soapstone sculptures and functional art.

• Siyaphambili Handicraft, a women-led cooperative weaving baskets from sustainable Lutindzi grass.

• Indzaba Yami Handicraft, creating woven products inspired by community stories.

• Favourite, blending Swati heritage with contemporary décor design.

• Welcome Mashaba, producing finely crafted soapstone homeware.

• Wels Crafts, a growing crochet brand offering handmade apparel and accessories.

What makes Indalo particularly unique is the collaboration between these local artisans and a group of international designers, including Asis Percales (Spain), Sharon Venancio (Vuna Africa), Delphine Mériaux and Agathe Pautrot (France), Kaja Solgaard Dahl (Norway), Heidi Winge Strøm (Norway), and Mari Koppanen (Finland). Together, they have co-created collections that blend global design perspectives with local materials and techniques, resulting in products that feel both rooted and contemporary.

The wider craft sector is also reflected through enterprises such as Tintsaba, highlighting the richness and diversity of Eswatini’s artisan landscape.

Through the programme funded by the EU and implemented by the ITC in collaboration with the Government of Eswatini, these businesses are gaining the support they need to grow. This includes enhancing product design, expanding production capabilities, and establishing connections with international markets.

EU Head of Cooperation, Eva-Maria Engdahl, emphasized the broader impact of the initiative when she said: “The Indalo Exhibition reflects the EU’s commitment to supporting Eswatini’s MSMEs by unlocking opportunities for growth, innovation, and global market access. By investing in creative industries, we are helping to build sustainable livelihoods while preserving cultural heritage.”

The exhibition will showcase a curated mix of products, from handwoven baskets and sculptural pieces to ceramics and modern décor, each shaped by collaboration and rooted in local identity.

For the artisans, the response so far has been encouraging.“Our products were met with curiosity and admiration. It was rewarding to see how our traditional techniques could be appreciated in a modern context,” said Lettinah Phangwane of Tintsaba.

As demand grows globally for authentic, sustainably made products, Indalo is helping position Eswatini’s MSMEs as part of that story, bringing local craftsmanship to a wider audience.

The public is warmly invited to attend the Indalo Exhibition from May 1 to 8, 2026 at Alliance Française de Mbabane. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the creativity shaping Eswatini’s craft and design space, engage with locally made, globally inspired products, and support the artisans behind them.

About the European Union Delegation to Eswatini

The EU Delegation to Eswatini is responsible for managing diplomatic relations between the EU and the Kingdom of Eswatini. These relations cover political relations, development cooperation, economic and trade relations as well as other areas of mutual interest between the two partners. The central objective of this partnership is to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty through sustainable development, the progressive integration of Eswatini into the world economy, and the promotion of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. 

About ITC

The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transitioning economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).   

About the Programme

The ITC-Alliances for Action programme 'Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances', funded by the EU, supports job creation for small farmers, entrepreneurs, and artisans. Eswatini offers the global market unique organic produce, artisan roasted coffee, handmade cultural creations, and gourmet condiment lines. 

ITC works closely with smallholder farmers, agro-processors, and artisans in Eswatini to support them in ways that are sustainable and benefit both people and the planet. In this way, ITC fosters and preserves cultural heritage, and draws on artisan skills and concepts of green growth. 

Alliances for Action is an ITC initiative that seeks to transform food systems through producer partnerships that cultivate ethical, climate-smart, sustainable agricultural value chains.