FSRA CEO’S Opening Statement For IOSCO World Investor Week 2025

By Ncamiso T. Ntshalintshali, Chief Executive Officer – Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA)

As the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), we are proud to join the global community in celebrating International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) World Investor Week (WIW), even this year. IOSCO celebrated WIW 2025 during the first week of October. However, IOSCO allows participating countries to conduct WIW-related activities in any week during October or November. As the FSRA we have chosen the week of the 27^th to 31^st for the 2025 activities. This annual campaign is a powerful platform for promoting investor education and protection across the globe.

This year’s theme, “Investor Resilience: Navigating Change with Confidence,” resonates deeply with our strategic priorities. It speaks to the heart of our mandate under Section 5 of the  FSRA Act, 2010 to empower consumers of financial services with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make informed financial decisions, especially in an environment marked by rapid change, innovation, and uncertainty.

Why Investor Education Matters?

In today’s highly interconnected and digitalized financial world, the role of the investor has evolved. No longer confined to stock markets or large institutions, investing now touches the lives of ordinary emaSwati, whether through the different investment platforms, retirement savings, insurance products, mobile money platforms, or informal investment schemes. With this evolution comes a responsibility to ensure that every consumer understands the risks, benefits, and rights associated with financial products and services.

Investor education is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity. It is the cornerstone of financial inclusion, consumer protection, and economic empowerment. When consumers are informed, they are better equipped to avoid fraud, plan for the future, and contribute meaningfully to the stability of our financial system.

FSRA’s Commitment to Consumer Empowerment

Over the past year, significant strides have been achieved by the FSRA in enhancing our supervisory framework  and these include the adoption of Risk Based Supervision in trying to pay more attention to high-risk areas in all the sectors including capital markets/ securities markets. As the Authority we have also prioritized development of guidelines for the capital markets space. Last week the FSRA hosted the Zambian Securities Exchange Commission who were in-country as part of a learning program to enhance our supervisory capacity on capital markets. All these is being done in trying to protect Eswatini investors.

To complement our supervisory work, as the FSRA we have intensified our efforts to reach consumers in urban and rural communities alike through exhibitions, radio programs, employee engagements, and digital platforms. Aligned to this, during this World Investor Week, we will be hosting a series of activities under the banner of “Responsible Investing for a Resilient Future.” These include: a series of consumer education articles focused on enlightening consumers on the impact of technology of financial services commonly known as “Fintech”, and also the basics of investing and how to avoid being scammed. We have also scheduled a discussion at UNESWA FM targeting the radio station’s listeners who are mainly the students of the University and the surrounding communities. The FSRA will also hold face to face presentations at the Faculty of Science in the University of Eswatini. Valuable information will also be shared on the FSRA social media platforms.

A Call to Action

As we celebrate IOSCO World Investor Week, we are reminded that investor protection is not a one-week event, it is a year-round commitment. FSRA will continue to champion consumer protection and education as a strategic pillar of financial sector development.

Let us use this week to spark conversations, challenge assumptions, and build a future where every investor, regardless of income, location, or background, can navigate change with confidence.

To all emaSwati, please take time to learn, to ask questions, and to reflect on how you can start investing, and if you have already invested how you can become a better investor. Whether you are investing for your child’s education, planning for retirement, or starting a small business, remember that informed decisions are empowered decisions.

To the financial services sector and most importantly the capital markets sector, as the focal sector on investments let us work together to build trust, transparency, and accountability. Let us ensure that financial products and services we offer are ethical and inclusive. We also encourage all FSPs to play their part on investor education.

To our education and media partners, your role is vital. Help us spread the message of financial literacy far and wide. Use your platforms to demystify finance and make it accessible to all.

As the FSRA we will continue to partner with our policymakers including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Parliament, Central Bank and all relevant stakeholders as we pursue the mandate of consumer/ investor protection and financial education.

Together, we can build a resilient, inclusive, and empowered financial ecosystem for Eswatini.