Lazarus Chakwera, Saulos Chilima hunt for markets, investors

President Lazarus Chakwera left the country Sunday for Durban, South Africa, where he will lead a group of 30 Malawian firms taking part in the second Intra-African Trade Fair. Briefing reporters on Friday, Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe described the two events in Durban and Dubai as crucial to Malawi in terms of trade volume creation. Gwengwe said, just like any…

President Lazarus Chakwera left the country Sunday for Durban, South Africa, where he will lead a group of 30 Malawian firms taking part in the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).

And, during the week, Vice President Saulos Chilima will lead local firms in taking part in the six-month Dubai Expo, as November 20 has been dedicated as Malawi National Day.

Briefing reporters on departure, Chakwera said he was going to the Rainbow Nation on invitation from South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Briefing reporters on Friday, Trade Minister Sosten Gwengwe described the two events in Durban and Dubai as crucial to Malawi in terms of trade volume creation.

Gwengwe said, just like any other economy in the world, Malawi was not operating in a vacuum, saying the country needed to assume a more active role to make an impact in today’s globalised trading regime.

“You might wish to know that the IATF is the biggest trade fair on the African continent designed to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA). We are also taking part in this event because we are now a State Party to the AfCFTA and, as such, the fair presents us with an opportunity to establish business linkages with buyers from across the continent.

“The programme for the fair has been made in such a way that there will be side meetings and events, where public as well as private sector officials will engage company officials at the fair,” Gwengwe said.

Commenting on Malawi Day at the Dubai Expo, Gwengwe said the country had planned to display the very best of Malawian products, cultural assets and innovations on the global stage.

Gwengwe said Chilima would be leading the Malawi delegation together with ministers of Trade, Tourism and Mining and other senior government officials from relevant ministries, departments and agencies.

“Apart from celebrating our national day and showcasing our products, this Expo presents us with an opportunity to establish market linkages with potential investors and international financiers of our bankable investment projects through B2B meetings that have been lined up.

“A total of 15 companies are currently exhibiting their products at the Expo,” Gwengwe said.

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