Online Reporter
Michael Tome in Blantyre, Malawi
LOCAL companies that participated at ZimTrade’s outward seller mission to Malawi last week were impressed by trade opportunities available in that market, particularly in agriculture.
They expressed optimism about securing lucrative deals with their Malawian counterparts.
ZimTrade facilitated the trade exploration mission, which included representatives from 10 companies, among them dairy processor Dairibord Zimbabwe, National Tested Seeds and Proplastics.
The aim of the mission was to unlock export markets and strengthen trade ties between the two countries, aligning with Zimbabwe’s National Export Strategy, which targets a 10 percent annual increase in exports.
The initiative also supports President Mnangagwa’s economic diplomacy, through which Government aims to attract foreign investment and promote tourism and trade opportunities for Zimbabwe.
Local companies noted promising trade prospects in sectors like manufacturing, irrigation equipment and high-quality cereal and horticulture seeds.
Zimbabwean firms intend to capitalise on Malawi’s expanding agricultural sector by exporting both agricultural expertise and products.
Given Zimbabwe’s comparative advantage in fertilisers and seed, Malawi presents a potentially profitable opportunity for local producers.
The market offers extensive opportunities, including the supply of seeds for wheat, sunflower and pigeon peas, which Malawi currently imports from South Africa.
In an interview during the outward mission to Malawi, Mr Tariro Chikodzere, the seed production manager for National Tested Seeds, said the mission had highlighted significant opportunities for the company.
“We have seen good opportunities here in Malawi, particularly regarding agricultural inputs, seeds and fertilisers, and I am pleased that we produce these at our base in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We also intend to tap into the opportunity to supply wheat, sunflower and pigeon pea seeds because we produce these seeds with the same level of competence as South Africa, from where Malawi currently sources its supplies.”
The company has also identified the potential for contract farming in Malawi, where they could engage local farmers to produce hybrid maize and other crops.
This would foster a mutually beneficial partnership supporting agricultural growth and development.
A representative from an irrigation equipment manufacturing firm, who elected to remain anonymous, said the trade visit had been crucial in identifying promising opportunities, including potential partnerships within the irrigation sector.
These opportunities include toll manufacturing collaborations to address local capacity limitations and distribution partnerships with merchants to expand market reach.
“The trade mission has facilitated our exploration of opportunities in Malawi, leading to potential partnerships in the irrigation sector. It has also created a platform for toll manufacturing collaborations with local manufacturers to address capacity gaps and distribution partnerships with merchants to enhance market access,” said the representative.
The companies have scheduled further meetings with local authorities and contractors and expect to discover more prospects to deepen their presence in the Malawian market.
ZimTrade manager for export promotion and the head of the outward seller mission to Malawi, Mrs Vuyiswa Mafu, said there were promising opportunities for trade between Harare and Lilongwe.
“As ZimTrade, we are pleased to see our export promotion mandate bearing fruit, with Malawian entities showing interest in Zimbabwean products,” Mrs Mafu said.
“We anticipate the formation of meaningful partnerships moving forward, driving growth and cooperation between the two countries.”
