Malawian firms to showcase at 2021 Dubai Expo.

Despite businesses being whipped by the global coronavirus pandemic, about 30 Malawian firms have expressed interest to participate at the 2021 Dubai International Expo that will take place in Dubai in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A statement by Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) indicates that the trade fair will run from October 2021 to March 2022.

Responding to an emailed questionnaire MITC Investment Promotion Manager Modie Chanza said companies from different sectors of the economy have expressed interest in both exhibition, participation and also sending goods for retail at the Malawi pavilion.

Chanza said participation at the expo is free and that the participants will only be responsible for transport and accommodation of which she said MITC has already courted airline and hotel owners to offer fair prices.

“The expo organizers have negotiated for discounts on flights with Emirates Airlines and also selected hotels in order to make participation more affordable.”

“Participation at the expo is going to be beneficial to both the country and for the businesses that take part.”

“It provides an opportunity for Malawi to sell her brand and position herself on the international market with her unique investment and trade opportunities,” Chanza said.

Chanza also said strategic marketing is a necessary factor to the success and growth of businesses especially in difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She believes the 2021 Dubai Expo will provide the needed strategic platform understanding that it is the first large scale international business and trade event to take place during the era of the pandemic.

Chanza said the expo will be an eye opener to local investors and exporters to start thinking outside the box in order to excel and compete even in difficult times.

She said: “Furthermore, such platforms provide opportunities for exposure and impactful relationships created through networking.”

“We expect that there will be strong growth in the global economy once the pandemic is fully under control and by taking part in this important global event we anticipate that Malawian businesses will be in a position to take advantage of opportunities in Trade, Investment and Tourism.”

Amongst the expected participants is a local gems and jewelry firm, Nyasa Mining Cooperative (NMC) which will carry unprocessed stones and jewelry for retail and exhibiting. 

Speaking in separate interview, NMC Chairperson Percy Maleta said the expo will also act as platform to sell their ideas planned for the Year 2021.

According to Maleta, NMC plans to open Nyasa Unique Gallery in May 2021 in Area 43 Lilongwe; Nyasa Lapidary and Jewelry Centre to start last quarter of 2021 also in Lilongwe and; Nyasa Tile Making and Ornaments Factory to start operating in the last quarter of 2021 in Mzimba district.

“We will be selling these businesses at the Expo; the idea is to get strategic partners. We are also taking to Dubai a tone of different varieties of gemstones and minerals including gold produced by Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASMS) across the country; these will be showcased and some given as samples to potential investors.”

“The Expo is a platform where Malawi gemstones and other minerals will be showcased and to announce to the world that the country is ready and inviting those that are looking for investment in the mining sector especially the sub sector,” Maleta said.

From the list of the participants, NMC is the only ASM cooperative expected to showcase at the international trade event.

Responding to why many ASMs are reluctant to take part in international expos of which some can be answers to their challenges, Maleta said players in the subsector have a mindset of taking the expos as expensive ventures to participate using their own resources.

Maleta said the majority of ASMs have the tendency of participating in international events that are fully sponsored.

He said: “This is where Nyasa Mining is different from the word GO. We funded our own training to be taught by the Ministry of Trade on cooperative education, got registered and started participating in all the international events with our own resources except for the time Export Development Fund partially supported us when we went to the Beijing 2019 Expo in China.”

“I should also mention that MITC sponsored our accommodation for 30-days in Beijing and the booths in Beijing and Shanghai otherwise all other expenses like air tickets, accommodation and yet all was on us.”

“This alone scares most ASMs yet these events are the place where we meet and interact with the best of the mining industry; these are the events that teach us new ways of doing things in the sector; these are the events where we network and promote our products as they are normally attended by tens of thousands of people and chances of clinching deals are high.”

The expo is organized under the auspices of the World Expo and the next event is expected to be held in Yokohama, Japan in 2025.