Malawi Government says the idea to diversify from agro-based to mineral-based economy is bearing fruits as the contribution of the mining sector is expected to increase to at least 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2016.
Vice-President Khumbo Kachali made the remarks on Monday at the launch of an Airborne Geophysical Mineral Exploration programme to be conducted by NuEnergy Gas an Australian company at Chileka Airport in Blantyre.
Kachali noted that before 2009, contribution of mining to the GDP was three percent, but rose to 10 percent in 2009 due to the opening of the Kayelekera Uranium Mine.
GDP is the market value of all officially recognised final goods and services produced within a country in a given period.
Kachali said the contribution of the mining sector is expected to increase to at least 20 percent of the GDP by 2016.
He said Malawi has traditionally been considered as an agro-based economy because of the policies that government pursued since attaining independence.
