Ministry of Trade has bemoaned low interest from the private sector to participate in the 2021/22 World Expo Dubai slated for October 1 2021 to March 31 2022.
The Dubai Expo, a global trade and investment platform, which is the first of its kind to be hosted by the United Arab Emirates, will attract 192 countries.
Addressing the media in Lilongwe on Thursday, Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe said so far, the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) has only received interests from 25 private companies.
He said: “Our weakness over the years as a country is that we have failed to participate in global value chains that are lucrative.
“We want, for instance, to promote Malawi tourism whose potential remains unexploited”.
The Minister said Malawi will showcase emerging non-traditional export products such as roasted macadamia nuts, Chia seeds, gemstones, soy beans and curios.
Mitc board chairperson Karl Chokotho urged the private sector to up their interest to participate at the Dubai Expo including the Domestic Investment Forum saying with Covid-19, business dynamics have changed and the private sector cannot be left behind.
According to Chikotho, the Dubai Expo will cost government $14 000 (about K11.3 million).
He said Mitc is currently in discussion with Satguru, the official travel agent for the Dubai Expo, to arrange for flight and accommodation discounts to companies from Malawi that want to travel to Dubai for the expo.
