Malawi, Moz step up efforts to ease doing business

The governments of Malawi and Mozambique have stepped up efforts to cut time and cost of doing business between the m countries, Minister of Industry and Trade Joseph Mwanamvekha has said.

Mwanamvekha said this after holding bilateral talks with his Mozambican counterpart, Minister of Trade and Commerce Armando Inronga in Maputo last week.

He, however, said there are a number of tariff and non-tariff barriers that still hamper trade between the two neighbouring countries.

“We came here to discuss tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting trade between the two countries. During the meetings, it transpired that there is need for transparency and accountability. We have committed to entering into a memorandum of understanding [MoU] where we should be publishing all the costs involved.

“This would help to address challenges facing our transporters, for example, on toll fees. When our transporters are moving from Blantyre to either Beira or Nacala, on the way they pay toll fees a number of times. They pay at Zobue, Zambezi and Tete and alsowhen they reach the port, they also pay parking fees and port fees, which increases the cost of our imports and exports,’’ said Mwanamvekha in a statement.

He said the two governments are at an advance stage to introduce one-stop border post, a development which could reduce the time taken to process documents on the border between the two countries to enhance doing business.