Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.
Last Published: 8/5/2019

The Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (EPPRA), is an independent regulatory body with responsibility for policy, regulation, oversight, professional development, and information management and dissemination in the field of public procurement.
The agency’s Circular One of 2016 explains public procurement procedures. Stakeholders are advised to familiarize themselves with the contents of the circular as it contains instructions of how effective public procurement is to be conducted.

In marketing products and services to the GKoE, one should not expect a steady flow of sales, but there are occasional opportunities for one-off sales of considerable size.  Generally the GKoE publishes tenders in the local media and, depending on the commodity required, occasionally in the South African media. There are three basic sources of GKoE tenders.  First, Government Stores, which is the GKoE’s procurement department located in the Ministry of Finance, purchases general supplies (furniture, stationary, etc.). Second, the Central Transport Administration (CTA) at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport purchases heavy equipment (tractors, bulldozers, generators, etc.).  Third, individual ministries directly purchase items unique to their work (meteorological equipment, x-ray machines, etc.).

Potential bidders pay for the right to bid at the GKoE revenue office and then collect tender documents from Government Stores after showing receipt from the government revenue office.  Bids are returned to the Central Tender Board.  Bidders are invited for the opening of the bids.  In some instances, a ministry can apply for a tender waiver if there are too few companies supplying a particular commodity.

The GKoE requires three quotes to procure an item.  It will issue an order to the company selected, and then the company applies for an import permit from the Ministry of Finance.

Many public works projects of the GKoE are financed through borrowing from the multilateral development banks. Please refer to “Project Financing” Section in “Trade and Project Financing” for more information.

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