Tapping into Regional Markets: A Game Changer for Malawi’s Business Growth
Key Business Points
- Malawian businesses are urged to leverage the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) to boost export earnings and expand into the African market.
- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework presents opportunities for Malawian businesses to enter new markets and establish strategic partnerships.
- Businesses should focus on sectors with comparative advantage or high growth potential, such as agriculture, agro-processing, and mining, to maximize gains from IATF2025.
As Malawi prepares to participate in the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), businesses are encouraged to take advantage of the growing opportunities in intra-Africa trade. The fair, set to take place in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4-10, 2025, presents opportunities in trade and investment deals worth $44 billion. According to Ministry of Trade and Industry spokesperson Patrick Botha, IATF2025 is a strategic platform for Malawian businesses to enter new African markets under the AfCFTA framework.
Botha emphasized that Malawian businesses will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services, establish strategic partnerships, and tap into high-growth sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and services. He encouraged local businesses to register for the trade fair and fully leverage the platform, which can help drive Malawi’s trade ambitions forward. As the Chichewa saying goes, "Tiyesetsane kufika pokambirira" (let’s work together to achieve our goals), and IATF2025 is an opportunity for Malawian businesses to do just that.
Export Development Fund Communications Specialist Deliby Chimbalu stressed the importance of strategic preparation, especially in promoting key agricultural exports like groundnuts, soybeans, and rice. "Kufikira kwa umwene" (thinking ahead) is crucial in this case, as businesses need to be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities presented by IATF2025. Chimbalu said that the Export Development Fund stands ready to support companies that will secure export markets with their export financing facilities.
Economic expert Velli Nyirongo noted that to maximize gains from IATF2025, Malawi should focus on sectors where it holds a comparative advantage or high growth potential. He cited agriculture and agro-processing as the backbone of Malawi’s economy, contributing over 22 percent to GDP. Nyirongo also pointed to mining as a promising growth area, with Malawi emerging as a source of uranium, rare earth elements, and other strategic minerals. He emphasized the importance of the Agriculture-Tourism-Mining-Manufacturing (ATM-M) strategy, which aims to drive industrial growth, reduce import dependence, and create jobs.
Nyirongo further emphasized the importance of deepening engagement in regional integration, leveraging Malawi’s strategic position within COMESA and AfCFTA to become a gateway to broader African markets and supply chains. With over 2,000 exhibitors, 35,000 visitors, and participants from over 140 countries expected to attend IATF2025, the fair presents a unique opportunity for Malawian businesses to connect with potential partners and investors. As the saying goes, "Mwambi siye" (a traveler is not a stranger), and IATF2025 is a chance for Malawian businesses to establish themselves as key players in the African market. By leveraging the AfCFTA framework and focusing on high-growth sectors, Malawian businesses can boost their export earnings and expand into the continent’s vast markets.
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