The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) says the Chigumula Industrial Park in Blantyre is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
Mitc spokesperson Ndondwa Msaka said this on Friday during a media tour to appreciate the progress of the park.
She said: “We have been seeing few challenges to do with foreign exchange, but we anticipate that the project will be completed by the third quarter of 2026.
“Once completed and fully in service, we believe that the park will be opened to 56 industrial parks for agro processing.”
The first phase of the project has seen the development of key infrastructure, including access roads on the 22.7 hectares, which will host agro- processing industries.
Msaka said many parties have expressed interest to open industries, but a notice calling for expression of interest will be published in due course to enable interested investors to submit their proposals.
“Ultimately what we are trying to do is to transition Malawi from a consumer economy into a producing economy,” she said.
Joseph Phiri, a representative of Mark Construction, which is working on the site said 85 percent of work, mostly surface work and drainage system, were completed despite some challenges.
“The major challenges have been scarcity of foreign exchange, challenges of fuel logistics and price fluctuations on the market,” he said.
The strategic development initiative is being championed by the Malawi Government to bolster industrial growth and attract investors.
The industrial park is fully funded by the Malawi Government and being implemented by Mitc in collaboration with the Ministry of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, Ministry of Lands, Roads Authority and the Department of Buildings.
Mitc hopes the industrial park will promote and facilitate trade and investment through creation of industrial Special Economic Zones in support of the Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development plan, and the National Export Strategy.
Malawi is in the process of establishing SEZs to fast-track industrialisation, which could lead to sustainable economic growth and development.
The industrial parks and specialised production zones were poised to create about 240 000 jobs.
The four designated sites for the development of SEZs and industrial parks are at Dundzuzu in Mzuzu with 72 hectares, Area 55 in Lilongwe with 417 hectares, Matindi, Blantyre with 130 hectares and Chigumula in Blantyre with 22.7 hectares.
