Companies urged to exploit Malawi market

be held in Lilongwe, Malawi, from October 10 to 15.
In a statement, ZimTrade said local companies have a potential to increase their market share in Malawi, given its strategic location.
“Malawi presents opportunities for a wide range of products manufactured by Zimbabwean companies, for example, leather products, footwear, processed foods, chemicals, paper, pulp and paperboard, packaging materials, printed materials, plastic materials, furniture, iron and steel products, dairy and poultry products and cosmetic products, to mention a few.
“The total value of Malawi’s imports from the world in 2010 was US$2,173 billion up from US$2,021 million in 2009, whilst Zimbabwe exported goods worth US$38 million and US$33 million to Malawi in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
“Given these statistics, ZimTrade believes that Zimbabwe has potential to increase its market share in Malawi considering that Malawi imports most of its products across the sectors from Comesa and Sadc region,” read the statement.
Zimbabwe and Malawi are both in the Sadc and Comesa blocs.
With respect to Tanzania and other Comesa countries to the north, “companies should fully utilise the Zimbabwe-Malawi bilateral agreement to export into Malawi and importing raw materials as well”, added the statement.
ZimTrade said participation in this event will give Zimbabwean companies a unique opportunity to showcase their range of quality products and services across all sectors of the economy, as the forum will bring together businesses from the Comesa and Sadc regions, West Africa and the international business community from China, India, United Arab Emirates, Europe and the United States of America.
The event will be held in the margins of the 15th Heads of State Summit set for October 14 to 15 under the umbrella theme, “Harnessing Science and Technology for Development; Talking Business Under a Single Market.”
The Business Forum and Regional Trade Exhibition “singles out the fruits of trading opportunities in the region” with a specific focus on both intra and extra- Comesa trade and beyond. As part of private sector corporate social responsibility, the event will encourage businesses to support environment friendly systems, under the sub-theme “Business Go Green”, with an overall purpose of adding value, quality and efficiency to businesses using affordable low-carbon technology.
“Over 1 000 business leaders, small to medium enterprises, women entrepreneurs will gather in Malawi, to engage in dialogue and establish partnerships through the business forum and regional trade exhibition,” read the statement.
Participants will be afforded a chance to conduct open dialogue and interactive sessions with regional and international business and policy makers.
Live media debates and business to business matchmaking exercises are some of the activities that will take place at the event.
The regional trade exhibition will also provide business to business and trade flow analysis facilities, where the Comesa secretariat shall assist potential business partners to information about the region’s products and services as well as potential markets.
“This is thus an opportunity for Zimbabwean companies to consolidate their presence into the region and increase their market share,” read the statement.