The inaugural Uganda-Malawi Business Forum Exhibition has been hailed as a purposeful and attainable initiative, aiming to raise awareness and generate interest in business enterprise between the two countries. The two-day forum, held in Lilongwe, brought together government officials, regulators, investment promotion agencies, financiers, and private sector representatives to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.
According to Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, H.E. Col. (Rtd.) Fred Mwesigye, Malawi stands to benefit from Uganda’s abundant opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and technology. He cited the example of Uganda’s motor vehicle production plant, which has an installed capacity of 5,000 vehicles per annum. Mwesigye emphasized the potential for both countries to leverage regional and continental frameworks, including COMESA, SADC, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to access larger markets, reduce business costs, and integrate value chains.
The Director of Administration from Malawi’s Ministry of Trade, Sphiwe Mauwa, noted that the forum provided an enabling environment for businesspeople to acquire knowledge and facilitate smooth trade between the two countries. She stressed the need for proper information from authorities and for the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to address gaps that international investors, including Ugandans, face when seeking to do business in the country.
A significant milestone marked during the forum was the launch of Malawi Airlines’ new scheduled flights to Uganda, operating four times weekly. This development is expected to usher in new possibilities for trade, tourism, and business mobility. The forum, held under the theme “Exploring and tapping into the rich opportunities for deeper collaboration,” aimed to foster greater cooperation and understanding between the two nations.
The Uganda-Malawi Business Forum Exhibition is a crucial step towards strengthening economic ties between the two countries. As both nations seek to diversify their economies and increase trade, initiatives like this forum are essential for creating awareness, generating interest, and facilitating business partnerships. With the launch of new flights and the exploration of opportunities in various sectors, the future of Uganda-Malawi trade relations looks promising.