UNIDO ITPO Tokyo held an online “Malawi Business Seminar” on March 29, 2023, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Malawi in Japan. The event aimed to provide helpful information on Malawi’s business environment and investment opportunities for Japanese companies and was viewed by 112 participants, including Japanese companies.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Kwacha CHISIZA, Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi to Japan, cited Malawi’s geographical and political advantages and expressed his hope that more Japanese companies and investors will come to Japan. H.E. Mr. Youichi OYA, Ambassador of Japan to Malawi, followed by stating “Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malawi. I hope that the public and private sectors will work together for the further development of our two countries.“

In the first session, Ms. Nellie KONDWANI, Chief Tourism Officer, Ministry of Tourism provided a presentation on Malawi’s rich tourism resources and growth potential. Mr. Paul KWENGWERE, Chief Executive Officer, Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC), followed with a keynote presentation on investment opportunities in tobacco substitutes, fruits, sugar products, coffee, tea, spices, vegetables, railways, and iron and steel, among other sectors. He noted that there is a wide range of business opportunities in export-oriented sectors in Malawi. He also introduced investment incentives, such as tax benefits and support for investment, and favorable access to international markets. 
 
In the second session, three speakers from public and private organizations with expertise in Malawi took the stage. The first speaker was Mr. Alfonso CHIKUNI, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Energy of Malawi, who connected from the disaster area of Malawi, where the recent cyclone caused landslides and flooding. He mentioned the opportunities for investment in the energy sector, as the country has set a goal of raising the national electricity access rate from the current 18% to 100% by 2030. Next, Mr. Moffat Hamilton GAMA, Managing Director of JTI Leaf Malawi Ltd., introduced his company’s efforts to support a large number of farmers in various regions of Malawi, noting that “supply chain management is key to ensure the sustainability of the business.“

Mr. Shigeki KOMATSUBARA, Resident Representative, UNDP Malawi, introduced their initiatives on poverty reduction, governance, and the environment in Malawi. Among them, particular focus is made to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and promote innovation. Having supported about 50 companies in the past five years, he said, “Malawi is a country of tea, coffee, and tobacco, but there is a lot of room for investment in terms of business, and people are eager to innovate.“ 

In his closing remarks, Mr. Ferda GELEGEN, Officer-in-Charge, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, said, “investment and technology transfer from Japan can certainly provide benefits for Malawi and Japan going forward. I would like to invite Japanese companies to contact UNIDO, the Embassy of Malawi, and MITC to discuss further your business interests in the country. We will do our best to liaise with the appropriate counterpart agencies,” expressing full support for Japanese companies entering Malawi. 

Overview

Programme (provisional)

16:00   Opening Remarks

H.E. Mr. Kwacha CHISIZA, Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi to Japan
H.E. Mr. Youichi OYA, Ambassador of Japan to Malawi               

16:10   Overview of Malawi

Ms. Nellie KONDWANI, Chief Tourism Officer, Department of Tourism

16:20   Keynote Presentation: Investment Opportunities in Malawi

Mr. Paul KWENGWERE, Chief Executive Officer, Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC)              

16:45   Presentation Session

Mr. Alfonso CHIKUNI, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Energy of Malawi
Mr. Moffat Hamilton GAMA, Managing Director of JTI Leaf Malawi Ltd.
Mr. Shigeki KOMATSUBARA, Resident Representative, UNDP Malawi

17:10   Q&A

17:25   Closing Remarks

            Mr. Ferda GELEGEN, Officer-in-Charge, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo      

17:30   End

Presentation materials

• Ms. Nellie KONDWANI, Chief Tourism Officer, Department of Tourism
• Mr. Paul KWENGWERE, Chief Executive Officer, Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC)   
  
• Mr. Alfonso CHIKUNI, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Energy of Malawi
  
• Mr. Moffat Hamilton GAMA, Managing Director of JTI Leaf Malawi Ltd.

Contact Information

UNIDO Tokyo Office (Attn: Ms. Fukuyama, Ms. Matsumoto)
E-mail: itpo.tokyo@unido.org