Malawi explores K612bnagriculture market in Qatar

Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) says it is exploring a potential market for various agriculture products worth about $350 million (about K612 billion) in Doha, Qatar.

Mitc chief executive officer Paul Kwengwere said in an interview that the Malawi delegation at the just-ended trade exposition was negotiating with Qatar to cooperate in exploring new mining opportunities in oil and gas, lithium and rare earths.

He said there were also negotiations with a local retail chain store to partner on livestock and horticulture export trade.

Said Kwengwere: “There have been fruitful discussions with Ansar Gallery, one of the largest supermarket chains in Qatar, Gulf countries, Asia and America to secure a market for Malawi horticulture and beef products.”

He said Ansar Gallery has also expressed interest to sell Malawian horticulture products, including coffee, tea, honey, groundnuts, soya sesame, rice, chillies and tomatoes, among others.

Stakeholders in the agriculture, mining and tourism value chains have expressed optimism that the deals could improve Malawi’s economic situation, but stressed that more would have to be done to promote awareness and ensure quality.

Samson Chaziya, a representative of the Kachiguda Producers and Marketing Cooperative Society in Lilongwe, said Mitc and other government agencies should promote awareness in rural areas.

He said: “This is a positive development. The challenge is that sometimes government agencies are not vigilant enough to reach out to cooperatives. As a result, we miss out on business opportunities.

“Mitc should improve its awareness and sensitisation campaigns so that farmers such as us have access to international markets.”

Malawi Bureau of Standards spokesperson Monica Khombe said producers will have to ensure that their products meet the quality standard demanded in regional and international markets.

She said: “Ensuring that the products are competitive on the market also rests with the producer to follow requirements and apply standards as effectively as possible so that they realise a product that is desirable and acceptable and can compete with other products on the market.” The expo, which was held from October 2 last year to March 28 this year, brought together representatives from about 70 countries.