Malawi Investment and Trade Centre- MITC says improving cooperation among exporters and between the government and business actors is key in increasing Malawi’s exports and stimulating economic growth.
This was observed during a one-day training workshop on export pricing, logistics, and contract negotiation organised by MITC in Lilongwe.
Chief Executive Officer for MITC, Paul Kwengwere, noted that in the last ten years Malawi’s trade imbalance continues to widen hence the need for concerted efforts by all key players to reverse the trend.
"Our country has been experiencing a negative trade balance. If we look at the statistics, for example, the trade imbalance has increased from about USD -1.3 billion in 2010 to an estimated USD-2.2 billion in 2020 representing an increase of about 72%. This is something that we want to help address as MITC."
"So we need to work together to have this reversed. Each one of us has a role to play. At MITC we do organise these capacity-building workshops to help you our exporters to have the skills and knowledge on how best you can participate in the international market. Yes, we know that the export business can be challenging because of the intense competition from international players, but we believe that if we equip ourselves with the right information and right skills about international trade, we will excel as a country in exporting more products."
One of the participants, Owen Banda of Shamboko beverages, said it is commendable that the government through MITC is geared towards promoting exports through various interventions such as capacity building training.
"I am optimistically hopeful that the ever-widening trade imbalance of our exports will reduce and eventually close if we continue to work with government institutions like MITC and the Ministry of Trade in dealing with the barriers that Malawian exporters are currently facing," said Banda.
The training, which was delivered in a blended format-online and in-person, attracted the participation of more than 100 delegates.