Chakwera lauds Mozambique role in Malawi’s exports
President Lazarus Chakwera says Mozambique is one of Malawi’s most important neighbours as it provides access to sea ports for the country’s imports and exports.
In his address during the opening of the 20th National Agriculture Fair yesterday also attended by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, Chakwera said for the value added exhibits at the show to reach export markets, there is need to connect with countries that offer strategic routes such as Mozambique.
Chakwera said there are several projects aimed at promoting agricultural production, including the Agriculture Commercialisation (Agcom) initiative, but the sea ports in Mozambique are critical to make Malawi exports competitive.
He said: “I have always said that for Malawi to realise its export potential being landlocked we need to maintain better relationships with our neighbours and the country that we share a long border with is Mozambique; hence, it is the most important country for Malawi to collaborate with.”
Commenting on the agriculture fair, Chakwera said he was impressed with quality and value addition levels which he believes will keep on improving with projects that are providing financing in agriculture such as Agcom.
Nyusi, who was the guest of honour at the event, hailed the bilateral relations between the two countries and pledged his country’s continued support that aims at strengthening regional integration that, apart from Malawi, will also connect Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the Nacala Corridor.
He said apart from the Mozambique-Mal awi power interconnector set to boost energy supply in Malawi, the Nacala Corridor railway connection will enable Malawi, Zambia and DRC to utilise the corridor and benefit from cheaper transportation costs.
“There are many projects that Mozambique and Malawi are implementing jointly and we expect this to continue to the benefit of the two countries as we want to strengthen our trade position within the region,” Nyusi said.
Meanwhile, Malawi C o n f e d e r a t i o n o f Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Wisely Phiri said the fair’s theme ‘Driving towards export oriented agriculture through commercialisation and innovation’ resonates with the country’s National Export Strategy which targets increasing exports significantly by 2026.
However, he said efforts to boost production should be pursued simultaneously with the agro-processing agenda, stressing that raw products have less value and consequently are further worsening the country’s trade balance.
Said Phiri: “Our export portfolio has remained undiversified with export destinations concentrated to only a few countries within the sub-Saharan region and Europe.”
Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale was was in attendance at the opening ceremony.
This year’s National Agriculture Fair has attracted 170 participants and will end tomorrow. There are also exhibitors f r om Mozambique, Zimbabwe and one from Kenya.
