Ministry seeks new markets, investors

Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe says they will be searching for new investors and markets at both the 2021 Dubai Expo and Intra-African Trade Fair in South Africa.

The Dubai Expo opened on October 1 and will run up to March 31 2022 while the second Intra-African Trade Fair is slated for November 15 to 21 November in Durban, South Africa.

Speaking to journalists in Lilongwe on Friday, Gwengwe said the two international activities present an opportunity for Malawi to establish business linkages with investors and buyers from across Europe, Asia and the African continent.

He said: “This expo presents an opportunity for us to establish market linkages with potential investors and international financiers of our bankable investment projects through business to business meetings that have been lined up.

“We will be showcasing the best products and investment opportunities from Malawi in areas of agriculture such as mega farms, in mining, tourism and industry, among others.”

Gwengwe said for Malawi, the climax of the Dubai expo will be the Malawi National Day, which falls on November 20 and the key speaker will be the country’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima.

During this national day, he said all themes at the expo will be Malawian and the ministry has planned to display the best of Malawian products, cultural assets and innovations, including bankable investment projects.

While 15 companies are currently exhibiting their products at the Dubai Expo, 30 other companies, including small and medium enterprises from Malawi have confirmed their participation at the  Intra-African Trade Fair.

Malawi Investment and Trade Centre board chairperson Karl Chokotho said value-added products such as sugar, mangoes, coffee, among other traditional agricultural products will be showcased at the two trade foras.

“The benefits that come through participating in such activities are enormous. Trade deficit can be addressed through participating in such international trade fairs where new investments and markets are identified,” he said.

One of the SMEs, Fanny Gondwe, who is executive director of Perisha Agro and Packaging Enterprise, said she is geared to showcase products at the Durban event where she hopes to discover new markets and partnerships with investors and traders in Africa.