Eswatini–India relations
Bilateral relations
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History
Formal diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of India were established in 1970.[3]
The majority of the diplomatic visits between the two countries have been visits by Swazi officials, often to attend the annual CII-EXIM Bank Africa Conclaves and other multilateral events. From India, the highest level visits to Eswatini have been at the level of minister of state. The Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and the Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation visited Eswatini in May 2011 and July 2015 respectively. Both ministers met with King Mswati III.[4]
King Mswati III met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the second India–Africa Forum Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2011. He made the first ever visit by a Swazi King to India in October–November 2015 to attend the third India Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi. Mswati met with the then President Pranab Mukherjee on 27 October, and with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the following day.[4][5][6] Apart from other government officials, the King was accompanied by 15 wives, 30 children and 100 servants.[7] Mswati made his second visit to India in March 2017, accompanied by a 70-member delegation including ministers of foreign affairs, trade, economic planning, health and agriculture. Unlike the previous visit, the King brought only one of his wives and one child. The Indian Express described the move as a sign that the trip was "strictly business".[7] Mswati met with Prime Minister Modi and President Mukherjee,[8] was the guest of honour at the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave,[9][10][11] and also participated in Holi festivities. He also visited Anand, Gujarat to learn about animal husbandry and dairy farming practices, as well as Rajasthan and Gurgaon. Mswati sought India's assistance to establish a science park and renewable energy infrastructure in Eswatini.[7] Following his return to Eswatini, Mswati stated that Eswatini would benefit from the SZL 131 billion financial assistance that India had pledged to African countries at the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave.[12]
India voted against Eswatini's proposal to legalise the international sale of white rhino horns at the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP 17) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) held in Johannesburg, South Africa in October 2016. The proposal was defeated with 100 countries voting against, 26 in favour and 17 abstained.[13][14]
Eswatini supports India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.[15]
India's President visited Eswatini in 2018, giving further momentum to bilateral relations.[16]
Resident missions
India established its first resident mission in Eswatini on 13 August 2019. Eswatini opened its resident High Commission in India in December 2025, marking a significant step in institutionalising people-to-people and business engagement beyond government-to-government interactions.[17]
In September 2026, India's High Commissioner to Eswatini, N. Ram Prasad, concluded his tenure in the Kingdom. His final engagements with Eswatini's senior leadership included a farewell call on King Mswati III on 7 September 2026, during which the King recognised Prasad's contribution to bilateral relations and wished him well. Prasad also paid farewell calls on Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini on 27 August 2026 and on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Senator Pholile Dlamini Shakantu on 13 August 2026, with both officials recognising his contribution to strengthening India-Eswatini relations. His support for Eswatini students pursuing studies in India was also noted among his contributions during his tenure.[18]
India-Africa Forum Summit
The fourth edition of the India–Africa Forum Summit was held in New Delhi on 31 May 2026, open to all African Union member states. The summit's pillars included political and strategic cooperation, economic transformation and trade, agriculture, health, education, space technology, artificial intelligence, climate action and people-to-people exchanges. The summit concluded with the issuance of the Delhi Declaration.[19]
International Big Cat Alliance
Eswatini is a founding member of the International Big Cat Alliance. The Kingdom ratified the International Big Cat Species Agreement in January 2025, ahead of most other member countries. The International Big Cat Alliance Summit was held in India on 1 June 2026, drawing participation from approximately 95 countries. Eswatini officials participated in technical-level discussions on 2 June 2026.[20]
COVID-19 pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, India provided vaccines to Eswatini through the Vaccine Maitri initiative at a time when the Kingdom faced limited global supply. India's High Commissioner N. Ram Prasad described this as reflective of the "brotherly relation" that drives India-Eswatini relations.[21]
WAVES Summit 2025
In May 2025, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu led an Eswatini delegation to the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai. The delegation included representatives from major Eswatini media houses. On the sidelines, Shakantu held formal bilateral talks with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, covering partnerships in the creative and entertainment sectors, information technology, the space economy, artificial intelligence and exchange programmes.[22] This was the first visit by an Eswatini Foreign Minister to India.[23]
Trade
Bilateral trade between India and Eswatini totaled US$61.97 million in 2014–15, declining by 58% from the previous fiscal year. India exported $39.94 million worth of goods to Eswatini, and imported $22.03 million. While India's exports to Eswatini grew by 76.49% from 2013–14 to 2014–15, its imports from the country declined by 82.35% during the same period. The main commodities exported by India to Eswatini are pharmaceutical products, gold and precious metal jewellery, pearl/semi-precious stones, industrial machinery, fertilizers, Shellac, organic chemicals, aluminum products and electric machinery and equipment. The major commodities imported by India from Eswatini are industrial machinery, gold, residual chemical, medical and scientific instruments, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, electrical machinery, electronic instruments, pearls and semi-precious stones.[4]
Foreign aid
India has extended two lines of credit to Eswatini – $20 million to establish an information technology park, and $37.9 million for an agriculture development and mechanization project.[4]
Education and capacity building
ICCR Scholarships
Citizens of Eswatini are eligible for Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies in India.[4][24]
In 2026, the High Commission of India in Mbabane received 426 applications for 41 available ICCR scholarships under the India Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme for the 2026–27 academic year, representing more than ten applicants per available place. A three-member committee assessed all applications on merit. Of the 41 scholarships, 12 were for Master's studies and 29 for graduate studies. Female students received 24 of the awards. The orientation session for awardees was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo.[25]
Separately, 100 scholarships were made available globally under the Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Dance and Music Scholarship Scheme for 2026–27, covering Indian culture, dance, music, theatre and performing arts, with a maximum of 10 slots per country. One scholarship was also allocated exclusively to Eswatini under the Quad STEM Scholarship Scheme, supporting a four-year Bachelor of Technology degree in engineering.[26]
ITEC Programme
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has provided training opportunities to Emaswati across government, parastatal and private sector institutions. In April 2026, four Swazis departed for India to participate in the ITEC programme on "Space Technologies for the Benefit of Mankind: Indo-African Perspective." The participants were Prof. Simiso Mkhonta and Dr. Sifiso Nkambule from the University of Eswatini, and Mr. Phesheya Sukati and Mr. Sikhumbuzo Dlamini from the Royal Science and Technology Park.[27]
Mission ShakthiSAT
In August 2026, Eswatini participated in Mission ShakthiSAT, an international all-girls lunar satellite programme led by Dr. Srimathy Kesan of Space Kidz India, bringing together young women from 108 Commonwealth and partner countries. The Kingdom's participation was a joint initiative involving the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training, the High Commission of India in Mbabane and Space Kidz India. Representing Eswatini was Tiyandza Melokuhle Ndlovu, a Form Five learner at St. Theresa High School, accompanied by Nokulindwa Annie Dlamini, an ICT officer serving as Eswatini's country ambassador for the mission. Activities included satellite integration, payload development, space diplomacy sessions, women's leadership dialogues and cultural and technical exchanges with participants from other countries.[28]
Consular services
In March 2026, the High Commission of India in Mbabane announced the rollout of the Ministry of External Affairs SEWA Indian Consular Services System from 1 April 2026. The digital platform forms part of the Government of India's Digital India programme and provides a paperless process for consular services, including attestation of civil documents, attestation of power of attorney, and driving license attestation certificates, available to Indian nationals, emaSwati and other foreign nationals in Eswatini.[29]
Indians in Eswatini
As of December 2016, there are around 800 Indians in Eswatini, of whom about 300 are Indian citizens and 500 are people of Indian origin that have acquired Swazi citizenship. The Indian community is primarily involved in business. Some Indians also work in Swazi Government departments and hospitals, and a few are professors teaching at the University of Eswatini.[4]
Cultural relations
In late 2024, the first-ever Indian Film Festival was held in Eswatini, featuring 13 Indian films and inaugurated by the Senate President. In 2025, a 20-member Eswatini delegation of cultural and business representatives participated in the Surajkund Mela, a major cultural festival in India. The Indian government sponsored two visits for Eswatini journalists to India in 2025 as part of an effort to institutionalise media exchanges between the two countries. The High Commission of India in Mbabane also developed a draft cultural exchange programme to facilitate further collaboration.[30]