The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) has said it will have a mission to China this month which is aimed to attract investment and create trade linkages.
In a press statement released last week signed by Mitc public relations manager Deliby Nyale, the investment and trade centre has said it will have the mission between March 17 to 20 to enhance Malawi’s visibility and showcase the country’s opportunities the country offers to potential Chinese businesses.
“The investment mission to China will increase Malawi’s visibility through interaction with investors and high-level officials. We will also identify investor needs and Chinese business outlook through interaction. The mission will also publicise in a targeted manner investment projects that Malawi offers in sectors including mining, energy, infrastructural development, agro-processing. We will also provide information on investment and trade opportunities in Malawi to potential investors and trade from China. Mitc will also seek to expand the market for Malawi’s products through trade linkages,” said Nyale.
She added that to have an effective mission, Mitc has profiled projects which will be marketed to Chinese investors which include Press Agriculture Farms to promote commercial agriculture and value addition.
The mission will also market the electrification project to develop our energy sector.
According to Nyale, Mitc is committed to undertaking investment missions annually as one way of marketing the country to the global market.
She argued that the missions are a strategic marketing tool that will allow the centre’s officials to network and interact directly with prospective investors in order to interest them to consider Malawi and to enable them to make preliminary decisions on whether to invest in the country.
According to Mitc the mission will include representatives from both private and public sector who have specific projects and would wish to interact with Chinese businesspersons.
Nyale said China has been singled out for this mission because of the potential that the Chinese investments have for private sector growth in Malawi.
Available data indicate that China is Malawi’s emerging trade partner. In 2012, Malawi’s imports from China stood at $249 million (K109 billion) while Malawi’s exports stood at $48 million (K21 billion).
