MITC identifies potential export markets for local commodities

By Wahard Betha

As one way of retaining and expanding trade and export activities and links opportunities, Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) has announced that it has identified potential export markets for various commodities through its various export promotion efforts.

In a press statement, CEO for MITC Paul Kwengwere says the demand for the commodities range from 10 metric tonnes to 120,000 metric tonnes.

The markets are for commodities like soya beans, groundnuts, rice, tea, coffee, macadamia, sunflower, pigeon peas, sesame, chick peas, tomatoes, mangoes and pineapples, among others.

Kwengwere says: “As MITC our mandate involves promoting Malawian products on the international market with the intention of identifying viable export markets for such.”

“So through the trade fairs, trade missions and expos that we attended in the last financial year of 2021-2022, we have managed to identify these export markets.”

“These market opportunities are from verified potential buyers who are ready to discuss pricing and tonnage issues with those that are interested.”

“We are encouraging those with the said commodities to contact our office so that we link them to the potential buyers for further engagement.”

Kwengwere explains that the potential export markets are in countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, India, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, United Arab Emirates, China, Japan and Indonesia.

Recently, MITC announced a funding opportunity, worth €25 million, for players in the horticulture sector.

The funding is part of the Caribbean Pacific Liaison Committee (COLEACP) framework programme on agricultural value chains under the Fit for Market+ programme financed by the European Union.

The Fit for Market+ programme is aimed at providing technical support to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries like Malawi to maintain and improve the capacity of smallholder farmer groups and horticultural Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access

domestic, regional and international markets.

Public Relations Manager for MITC Deliby Chimbalu described the funding as a great opportunity for business people in the horticulture sector.

“One of the key challenges facing our businesses is lack of finance or funding to implement their projects that could benefit the country’s economy. So opportunities like these need to be utilized that is why we are encouraging those operating in the horticulture sector to apply for this funding.”

“This Fit for Market+ programme under COLEACP will run for five years and it is very

important because the technical assistance that they provide focused on building capacity of

MSMEs in areas of developing export market plans, preparing business plans, export standards

awareness and improving their access to national, regional and international horticulture

markets among others.”

COLEACP designs and manages development programmes in the agriculture and food sector funded by donors, mainly the European Union (EU) and the organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.

MITC is an investment and trade promotion and facilitation agency in Malawi.

MITC identifies, develops and packages investment opportunities in Malawi; provides a professional service to all clientele; brands and markets Malawi as an investment destination; retains and expands trade and export activities and links opportunities to the developmental needs of the Malawi community.

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