AU partners govt on investment forum
The Malawi government has partnered the African Union (AU) in the organisation of this year’s Malawi Investment Forum (MIF) slated for next week in Lilongwe.
AU regional delegate to Southern Africa Leopold Augusto Ngomo said in an interview on Wednesday the decision is based on the fact that the private sector is the weakest link in the integration process in the southern Africa and the entire continent.
He said: “The private sector is rarely part of the policy debate on the integration process and does not participate in decision-making on the modalities and strategies of regional integration.
“Paradoxically, the private sector is often listed as one key actor to drive regional integration through investments, production and industrialisation.”
Ngomo said it is with this background that the AU regional office and the United Nations Commission for Africa Southern Africa office (Uneca-SA) have collaborated with the Africa Business Group (ABG) to organise a stakeholder forum for investment growth.
“We have partnered with the government of Malawi as the AU member State by sponsoring the Malawi Investment Forum 2018 and negotiating to have our conference on stakeholder forum on the private sector and regional integration in Southern Africa running concurrently with the investment forum,” he said.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Henry Mussa said they have set a target of 700 delegates from within and outside the country.
So far, he said 500 delegates have already registered for the forum.
“We have planned to have a trade exhibition during the MIF 2018. This exhibition is aimed at showcasing the products and services produced in Malawi,” said Mussa.
Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc)chief executive officer Clement Kumbemba said this year’s investment forum is expected to be one of the best in view of the financial institutions that have confirmed their participation.
The institutions include Africa Agriculture Investment and Trade Fund, Trade and Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, International Finance Corporation, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Standard Bank plc and National Bank of Malawi plc.
