Malawi in Brief

Malawi in Brief

Malawi in Brief

Table of Contents1.0 CountryProfile .......................................................12.0 BusinessEnvironment .............................................33.0 Marketaccess ........................................................44.0 Investmentinfrastructure ......................................55.0 Financialservices ...................................................66.0 Investmentprocess .................................................67.0 Investment opportunities ...................................8 7.1 Agriculture & agro-processing ................8

7.2 Tourism ......................................................14

7.3 Mining .......................................................15

7.4 Manufacturing ........................................16

7.5 Forestry .....................................................16

7.6 Energy ......................................................17

7.7 Greenbelt Initiative .................................17

7.8 Nsanje World In-land Port ....................18

8.0 Export opportunities .........................................19

8.1 Tobacco ....................................................19

8.2 Tea .............................................................20

8.3 Sugar ........................................................20

8.4 Coffee .......................................................20

8.5 Chilli Sauce ..............................................21

8.6 Cotton .......................................................21

8.7 Pulses ........................................................21

8.8 Wheat .....................................................21

9.0 QualityofLifeinMalawi ..................................22

10.0 EntryRequirements ..............................................24

11.0 PublicHolidays ....................................................24

Malawi in Brief

1.0 Country Profile

Malawi is a safe, sensibleand profitable free marketeconomy, strategically locatedbetween Zambia, Tanzaniaand Mozambique. Malawiis well positioned to act asyour global export base inan increasingly competitivemarket, where access to rawmaterialsandtimetomarketiscrucial inmaintainingaglobalchainsupply.

Market access from Malawiis guaranteed as the countryis signatory to a number ofagreements that ensure dutyfree access into regional andinternationalmarkets.

Malawi’s low cost of doingbusiness is a notable assetparticularly when consideringlabor costs. There is very littlecrimeandthesmallsizeofthenation makes doing businessa friendly, relationship drivenexperience.

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Malawi in Brief

Why Invest In MalawiMalawiisenviedforherstrategiclocationinsouthernAfrica.Thecountrythoughlandlockedisabletoreachregionalmarketshasslefree.

Thereare inter-linkages in telecommunicationsand road networkswhichconnect with SADC, COMESA regions and beyond. Exporting productsfromMalawi ismadeeasierbyproximityof seaports fromneighboringcountries.Comprehensively,Malawioffersinvestorsthefollowing:

• Investmentprotection

• Investorsafety

• Strategiclocation

• Goodmarketaccess

• Attractiveinvestmentincentives

• Safe,securestableandprofitablebusinessenvironment

• Superbphysicalenvironment

• Educated,skilledandreadilyavailableworkforce

• Developedfinancialservicessupport

• Institutionalsupport

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Malawi in Brief

2.0 The Business Environment

Malawi is today’s thepreferred choiceasa location for foreigndirect investment.While small inphysical sizeand land locked,Malawienjoyscloseproximityandeasieraccess to thenearby

seaportsoftheworld.MalawialsoenjoysdirectairlinkswithmajorairportsinsouthernAfricaregionwhichfacilitatethemovementofpassengersaswellasfreight.Theseinternationalairports include;Johannesburg(SouthAfrica),Lusaka(Zambia)andNairobi(Kenya).

Malawi is now home to over fifty FDI companies fromUSA,UK, Japan,China, RSA, and Germany amongst others. These companies operatemainly in themanufacturing and processing sectors, agriculture, tourism,miningandpropertydevelopment.

Malawiasapreferredinvestmentlocationboastsofskilledandsemi-skilledEnglishspeakingworkforcewith thegoodproductivity levels. Inadditionthecountryhasalongestablishedfreeenterpriseeconomy,politicalandeconomicstabilityaswellassafeandsecurelocationforbusiness,familyandproperty.

Competitivelypricedutilitiessuchaswater,electricity,telephoneandpostalservicesarereadilyavailable.Foreignexchangeandinternationalmoneytransfersareprovidedthroughcommercialbanksoperatinginthecountry.

Energy,manufacturing,agro-processing,tourism,infrastructureandICThavebeenidentifiedbythegovernmentofMalawiashavingpotentialfordrivingeconomicdevelopmentinMalawi.

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Malawi in Brief

3.0 Market AccessMalawiispartytoanumberofregionalandinternationaltradeagreementsthathasprovedtobeenormousbenefitstonewandexistinginvestors • SADC • COMESA • AGOA

SouthernAfricaDevelopmentCommittee-SADC Anassociationof14southernAfricanstateswhose objectiveistosustainregionalcollaborationinorderto promoteeconomicgrowthandimprovegeneral conditions

CommonMarketforEasternandSouthernAfrica-COMESA COMESArepresents20countriesandaimstopromote cooperationbetweenthememberstatesinallareasof economicactivity.

AfricanGrowthOpportunityAct-AGOA DutyandquotafreeaccesstoUSAmarketformorethan 6500products.

MalawiisalsoamemberoftheUnitedNationsOtherinternationallinksinclude:

• AfricanDevelopmentBank• Africanunion• InternationalMonetaryFundIMF• WorldBank• InternationalTradeCentre• WorldTradeOrganization• InternationalLaborOrganization• TheCommonwealth

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Malawi in Brief

4.0 Investment Infrastructure

Malawihasgoodinfrastructurefacilitiestofacilitateeaseinbusinessoperationalactivities.Theseincludereasonablypricedandreliableutilities,roadnetworks,reliablecourierservices,

modernbankingfacilitiesandinsurancefacilities.

WaterUtilityThemajorfivewaterboardsinMalawi;Blantyrewaterboard,southernregionwaterboard,Lilongwewaterboard,centralregionwaterboardandNorthernregionwaterboardprovidereliablewatersupplytobusinessesandhouseholds.WaterinMalawiisaffordable.

ElectricitySupplyTheElectricitySupplyCorporationofMalawi-ESCOMprovidespowersupplyformajorbusinessusersandallothersincludinghouseholdelectricityneeds.

TelecommunicationsTheMalawiTelecommunicationsLimited(MTL)offersawiderangeofinformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)basedproductstogetherwithotherprivatecompanies.

RoadsMalawiisinvestingsubstantiallyinroadtransportnetwork.Malawihandlesmorethan70%ofinternalfreighttrafficand99%ofpassengers’traffic.TheroadnetworkinMalawiiscomposedof15,451KM.

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Malawi in Brief

5.0 Financial Services Sector

Malawi’s financial sector has undergone a significant reformprogrammeaimedatbuildingamore inclusivefinancial sector,liberalizingandmodernizingthefinancialsystemandopeningup

thesectortonewentrants.

Thishasresultedinanincreaseinthenumberofcommercialbanksfromtwotonine,thenumberofmicrofinanceinstitutions/lenderstofifteen,market-basedinterestrates,unrestrictedaccesstofinancingfacilitiesforbothlocalandforeigninvestorsandamanagedfloatingexchangerate.

6.0 The Investment Process(i) MinimuminvestmentcapitalofUS$50,000.00

ProspectiveinvestorsarerequiredtoinvestaminimumcapitalofUS$50,000.00tobeeligibletoapplyforInvestmentCertificate,Immigration permits, land and sector-specific approvals, permitsandlicenceswithMITC.

(ii)CompanyincorporationProspective investors are required to incorporate a company inMalawi with the Registrar of Companies before proceedingfurtherwithanyinvestment-relatedactivities.TheRegistrarissuesaCertificateofIncorporationonceacompanyisregistered.

(iii) IssuanceofInvestmentCertificateAll prospective investors investing aminimum capital of USS50,000.00arerequiredtoobtainanInvestmentCertificatefromMITC.MITCchargesanon-refundableprocessingfeeofU$S200.00andanissuancefeeofUS$800.00forthecertificate.

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Malawi in Brief

AtthisstageonecouldalsoapplyforBusinessResidencePermitsand Temporary Employment Permits, land, and sector-specificapprovals,licencesandpermits.TheinvestoronceissuedwiththeBusiness ResidencePermitmayproceedwith openingabusinessaccount with a Malawian commercial bank and registering thebusinesswiththeMalawiRevenueAuthority.

(iv) BusinessResidencePermits,TemporaryEmploymentPermitsandBusinessLand.

MITCthroughtheOneStopServiceCentreprocessesapplicationsfor Business Residence Permits (BRP), Temporary EmploymentPermits(TEP)andBusinessLandforinvestors.

(v)EnvironmentalImpactAssessmentRequirementsSome investment projects require an Environmental impactAssessment (EIA) depending on the magnitude and location ofthe proposed investment in Malawi. EIAs are determined andadministeredbytheDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs. MITCagainfacilitatestheprocess.

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Malawi in Brief

7.0 Investment opportunities

Malawiisendowedwithrichculturalheritage,scenicbeautyrichsoilsandnaturalresources.Astrongfinancialservicessectorbackedby a sound regulatory and legal framework, excellent market

access,aneducatedandvibrant, labourpoolandmanyotherattributesare someof theattractions in this country. To this endgovernment hasidentifiedcertainkeysectorsencompassingabroadsectorbaseofferingexcellentgrowthpotential.

7.1AGRICULTURE&AGRO-PROCESSING

TherearevariousinvestmentopportunitiesinAgriculture,includinglivestockproduction(fordairyandbeef),aquaculture,horticulture,agro-processing,sugar,piggery,honeyproduction,integratedcottondevelopment,cassavaproduction,andmushroomgrowing.

Theseagricultureproductscanbeprocessedandexportedundertradingarrangements encompassing SADC,COMESA, andGSP SCHEME of theEU’s EBA Initiative. The AfricanGrowth AndOpportunity Act (AGOA),China General Tariff Preferential Treatment, the India PreferentialTrade Arrangement Benefiting LCD’s and the JapanPreferential TradeArrangementBenefitingLeastDevelopedCountries(LDCs).

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Malawi in Brief

A.SoyaBeansSoya beans processing is a fast growing business.Soya-based products are used by bakeries, themeat industry, and animal feed manufacturing toincreasethenutritionalvalueoftheirfeedsaswellastheshelflifeofproducts.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunitiesProcessing factory for turning soya into yogurt,cheese,tofu,mince,candles,cattlefeeds,biodiesel,cookingoil,meatsubstitutes,andmargarineforlocalandinternationalmarkets.

B.FruitsandVegetablesMalawi boasts of a wide variety of fruits andvegetables including oranges, tangerines, pawpaws,guavas,mangoes,avocadopears,pineapples,bananas, tomatoes and onions. Most ofMalawi’sfruitsandvegetablesarenotpreserved-hencetheycan often go to waste, especially in peak season.Fruitsandvegetablesaremostlygrown inNtcheu,Dedza,Mwanza,SalimaandShirehighlands.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Coldroomandrelevanttransportationinfrastructure

• Processingfactoriesforvalueadditiontomakepuree,spices,pastesandjuices.

• Storage,cleaningandgradingfacilities• Large-scalecommercialfarming• Marketdevelopment• Contractfarming

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Malawi in Brief

C.PigeonPeas/PulsesMalawiisamongthetopproducersofPigeonPeas/Pulseintheworld.IndiapresentsahugemarketforMalawiPigeonPeas/pulseSpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Foodcrop(driedpeas,flour,orgreenvegetables

peas)anda forage/covercrop• They contain high levels of protein and the

important amino acids methionine lysine, andtryptophan.

• Leaves,flowers,seedpodsandseedallmakenutritiousanimalfodder.

• Large scale commercialproductionofpigeonandpeasforhouseholdandindustrialuse.

• ProcessingpigeonpeasintoDahlfortheAsianMarket• Productionfactoryforfoodsupplements

D.TeaSpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Large-scalecommercialproduction• Export trade toSouthAfrica,Asia,Kenyaand

Europe settingupa teaprocessing factory forlocalandinternationalmarkets.

E.SugarProductionMalawi produces enough sugar for its internalconsumption and for export. Currently, there aretwo main factories; one at Ntchalo in ChikhwawaDistrictandanotheroneatDwangwainNkhotakota.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Largescaleproductionofsugarcaneintheareas

undertheGreenBeltInitiative(GBI)• Sugarcaneprocessingfacilitiesforexportmarkets• Ethanolproduction 10

Malawi in Brief

F.IntegratedCottonDevelopmentTheMalawi government would like to develop anintegrated cotton industry as a future potentialdiversification strategy away from tobacco,particularlygiven thegrowingglobalanti-smokinglobby.Thisstrategyinvolvesdevelopingtheindustryacross the value chain from seed multiplication totextilemanufacturing.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Sellingcertifiedseeds,chemicalsandfumigants,

andsprayers;andcontractfarming• Largescalecommercialfarming• Settingupginning,yarnandtextilefactories• Exportingprocessedcottonandtextileproducts

totheUSAundertheAGOATradeAgreement

G.LivestockProductionSpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Improvedbreedsofcattle,artificial

insemination,medicationsandextensionservices• Feedgrowingandfeedproduction,hay

productionthroughthegrowingofRhodesgrass(andstockingitforsaletofarmers)

• Manufacturingofcoolingandcollectionequipment(e.g.milkchurns)

• Serviceprovision,includingartificialinsemination,operationofdippingtanks,theadministrationofdrugs

• Transportationofrawmilktoprocessingplants

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Malawi in Brief

H.PiggeryFarmingThegovernmentofMalawihasembarkedtoimprovepigproductionbypromotingincreasedavailabilityofpigs,pigmeatandproducts.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Provisionofimprovedbreedsandfeeds

supplementsforpigs• Artificialinsemination• Provisionoffeedsforpigs• Provisionofmedicalservices

I.CassavaProductionCassava(ManihotEsculenta)isastaplefoodinthelake shore areas ofNkhotakota, Nkhata-bay andRumphi, and other parts of Malawi as a securitycrop. The main advantages of growing Cassavaarethatitisdroughttolerant,abletoyieldwellonmarginalsoils,hasminimallabourrequirementsandthatitsyieldfluctuateslessthanmaize.Cassavaalsoservesasacashcrop.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Large-scalecommercialfarmingalongtheLake

Malawi• Processing factories for starch and flower

domesticandindustrialuse• Selling of certified clones; pest and disease

control

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Malawi in Brief

J.MushroomProductionMushroomareahighvaluecash crop,a sourceofvitaminsBIandB2,minerals,potassium,calciumandiron,proteinsandessentialaminoacids

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Large-scalecommercialproductionforlocaland

internationalmarkets• Packages and graded mushroom for popular

localsupermarketsoutlets,hotelsandrestaurants.

K.Fisheries/aquacultureMalawiaimstosustainandincreasetheproductivityofsmallandlargescalefisheriesforbothdomesticand export markets. Malawi fish especially theTilapiaandCatfishare ingreatdemand inSouthAfrica,EuropeandAsia.TheabundantfreshwatersofthethirdlargestfreshwaterlakeinAfrica,LakeMalawi, are home to some of the tastiest tilapia(locallyknownaschambo).

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Large-scale commercial fish farming using the

latestfishingtechnologiesforboththedomesticandforeignmarket.

• CagefishfarminginLakeMalawi.• Commercial pond fish farming along Lake

Malawi• Investing in cold rooms and fish transport

infrastructure• Setting up fish processing facilities along Lake

Malawi• FishfeedproductionandFingerlingsmultiplication

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Malawi in Brief

7.2 TOURISMDEVELOPMENT

Malawi is endowedwith beautiful and unique tourist spots includingLakeMalawi,nationalparksandGameReserves,MulanjeMountain,

wildgame(thebigfive),forestreserves,andculturalandhistoricalsitessuchasmissionarygravesandslavetradevillages.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Eco-tourism• Hotel,campsandlodges• Developsupportinfrastructure(Electricity,Waterand

Transport)• Waterandlakesports• Culturalandtraditionaltroupes(communitybased

tourism)• Wildernesssafari,travelandtours• Gameandforestlodges• Casinosandentertainmentcentre

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Malawi in Brief

7.3MINING

Malawi is naturally endowed with vast unexploited mineral resources.Government expects steady increase in the contribution of the miningsector toGDPbyat least10%annually. Currentlymining is limitedto:coal mining, quarrying, limestone production and gemstone mining.Gemstone exports are dominated by an aquamarine, amethyst, redandrhodolitegarnets,quartz,angeringandfeldspar

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Gold• Uranium• Platinumgroupofminerals(PGMs)• Basemetals• Nickelandcopper• Dimensionstone• Phosphates• Heavymineralsands• Graphite• Coal

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Malawi in Brief

7.4MANUFACTURING

Manufacturingaccountsforabout12%ofMalawi’sGDP.Asmostofthetraditionalagriculturecropssuchas tobaccoand teaareexported inasemi-processedstate,therearegreatopportunitiesforinvestorstoconverttheseagriculturalproductsintohigh-valuefinishedproducts.Investorsmayventureintothemanufactureofanyoftheproductslistedbelow.

(l) TextileandGarmentmanufacturingWith market opportunities under AGOA and preferentialagreementsbetweenMalawiandSouthAfrica,andMalawi’slowlabourcostsinvestinginthegarment/textileindustrywouldbeasmartchoiceforforeigninvestors.

(ll) LightgoodsmanufacturingMalawiimportsmostofitslightgoodsequipmentsuchashouseholdelectrical fittings (e.g cables, plugs, switches) and engineeringmaterials, e.g. steel-based products. Investors are thereforeinvitedtoinvestinthissectortoreducecurrentimportsandsaveforeignexchange.

7.5FORESTRY

Malawihas largeforestplantationswhicharemainly;NyikaPlateauatChelinda,Dedza,Mulanjemountain,ZombaplateauandChikangawa

SpecificInvestmentOpportunitiesValueadditiontothecountry’svastforestresourcesvia themanufacturingof timberand timber-basedsuchasblackboards,cheapboards,plywoodOpportunitiesarealsotheretodevelopnewforests.Logandloggingsupplyagreementsforharvestingandcuttingofexistingtimber.

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Malawi in Brief

7.6ENERGYDEVELOPMENT

Thisindustryiscrucialasitsupportotherindustriesforsustainableeconomicgrowthandinfrastructuredevelopment.Hugeprivateinvestmentisrequiredtomeet increasingenergydemandforbothhouseholdand industryuse.Hydroelectricity,fossilfuelsandbiomassarethemostusedenergysourcesinMalawi.TheGovernmentisinvitinglocalandforeigninvestorstoinvestinthefollowingarea;

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• Hydrogeneration,distributionandtransmission• Solarenergy• Windenergy• Fuelstorageandoilpipelinefacilities• Thermalpowerplant• Biomassstoves• BiogasandRPG• Conductfeasibilitystudiesforpossiblehydro

generationsites

7.7THEGREENBELTINITIATIVE

ThisisagovernmentinitiativeaimedatcontributingtowardstheattainmentofsustainableeconomicgrowthanddevelopmentinlinewiththeMGDS.Ittargetscoverageof1millionhectaresoflandaimedatreducingpoverty,improvinglivelihoodsandsustainablefoodsecurityatbothhouseholdandnationallevelthroughincreasedproductionandproductivityofagriculturecrops,livestockandfisheries.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities• IrrigationCanals• Factories• Warehouses

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Malawi in Brief

7.8NSANJEWORLDINLANDFREEPORT

Malawi’s status as a land-locked country affects the cost of productionasthelandedcostofrawmaterialsishigh.GovernmentofMalawihasinitiatedthisprojecttoprovidealeastcostaccesstotheIndianOceanportofChendeinMozambique.Thewaterwaycoversadistanceof238kmandisexpectedtoreducetransportationcostsbyalmost60%.

SpecificInvestmentOpportunities;

• Constructionofoilpipelineandrefinery• Storagefacilitiesandwarehouses• Hotels,shoppingcomplexes,boatsandbarges• Realestatedevelopments

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Malawi in Brief

8.0 Export Opportunities

TRADINGENVIRONMENT

Trade in Malawi is liberalized with an import or export licensesrequiredonlyforafewproductswheresecurityandhealthconcernsarerelevant.Malawiisapartytoanumberofbilateral,regional

andmultilateraltradearrangementswhichareintendedtofacilitatetrade.

Themajor trade arrangements arewith theWorld TradeOrganization(WTO),EuropeanUnionunderEverythingbutArms(EBA),SouthernAfrica(COMESAandSADC). ApartfromtheWTO, these tradearrangementsofferpreferentialtreatmentongoodsoriginatingfromMalawi.Inaddition,Malawi isalsoabeneficiaryof theAfricaGrowthandOpportunityAct(AGOA)underwhichexportstotheUSenjoydutyandquotafreestatus.MalawialsohasfunctionaltradeagreementswithothercountriessuchasChina,Zimbabwe,Japan,SouthAfricaandMalaysia.

Malawi produces a wide range of export products with tobacco, teaandsugarasthetraditionalexportproductsaccountingforover80%ofMalawi’sdomesticexports.However,asaresultofexportdiversification,a number of non-traditional products havebeendeveloped for export.Thesenon-traditionalproductsfallintothreecategoriesnamely,agriculture,manufacturedandotherproducts.Agriculturestillremainsthemainstayofthecountry’seconomy.

Exportopportunitesforsomeselectedproductsarelistedbelow:

8.1TobaccoTobaccoisMalawi’seconomicbedrockandthecountry’sbiggest foreign exchange earner, accounting for 60percentofthetotaldomesticexportrevenue.Malawi’sTobacco is also renowned for its texture as an idealcigarettefiller.Malawiistheworld’sbiggestproducerof burley tobacco and about 75 percent of theMalawianpopulationisdependentontobaccofarming.

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Malawi in Brief

8.2TeaMalawicomessecondtoKenyaasthelargestproducerofteainAfrica.TeaisMalawi’ssecondlargestexportcropaftertobacco,Teaisproducedmostlyonestates,whichaccounts for16,000ha (40,000acres),mainlygrown inMulanjeandThyolodistricts. Malawi is thepioneerofteagrowinginAfrica,withproductionfirststartingcommerciallyinthe1880’sinMulanje.Malawigrowsclonaltypeofteathatisusedtoblendwithotherteas.

8.3SugarIt isa sourceof foreignexchangeafter tobaccoandtea.Excellentclimaticconditionsandgoodsoilcoupledwithirrigationfromsecurewatersourcesareidealforcurrentcultivationofhighyieldingqualitycane.TakingadvantageofregionalandmultilateralarrangementsMalawi sugar continues to maintain a strong marketpresencewithintheregion,intheUSandtheEuropeanUnion.

8.4CoffeeMalawi produces Arabica Coffee primarily for theexportmarket. It isgrownbybothestatesandsmallholder farmers. With the establishment of CoffeeAssociation of Malawi (CAMAL), production of highqualitywashedcoffeeisestimatedtoincrease.Thereisalsoscopeforinvestmentininstantcoffeeproduction.MajorexportmarketsareGermany,theUSandSouthAfrica.

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Malawi in Brief

8.5ChiliSauceItisoneofthepopularproductsthatMalawiproducesforboththeregionalandexportmarkets.Thesaucesaremarketedindifferentflavorssuitableforavarietyof dishes. Currently chili sauce is exported to SouthAfrica,GermanyandtheUnitedKingdom.

8.6CottonItistraditionallyanimportantcashcropinMalawiandsupportsover200,000farmingfamilies. Toboost itsproductionforexport,governmenthassetasidefundstoenable farmersaccess farm inputs. It isprojectedthat production could easily reach 100,000 tones asaresultofanincreaseduptake,investmentandyields.

8.7PulsesThey comprise beans, chick peas, pigeon peas, andgroundbeans,blackandgreengrams. Someof thepulses are used as a basic ingredient for dhal animportantsourceofproteinandadelicacyforpeopleofAsiaorigin.Pulsesareasubstituteforanimalmeat.

8.8WheatItisimportantcropbothforcashandfood.Itisgrownmostly under residuemoistureand rainfall showers inselectedareasofthecountry.Thedemandforwheatishigh.Currentproductionisaround4,605tonesperannum while total grain requirement is estimated ataround30,000tones.

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Malawi in Brief

8.9VegetablesVegetablesareasourceofmineralsaltsandvitamins.Favorable climatic conditions make it possible togrow vegetables widely in the country. Despite this,vegetablesareinshortsupplyduringcertaintimesoftheyear.

The erratic supply of vegetables creates a shortfall which necessitatesthecountrytoimportvegetablesfromneighboringcountriessuchasSouthAfrica particularly foe exotic vegetables. The most common varietiesgrowninMalawiandwhichhaveexportpotentialare;Frenchbeans,okra,tomatoes, onions, asparagus, baby cabbages, eggplants, lettuce, sweetcornandmushroom(oysterandbottom).

9.0 Quality of life in Malawi

Shopping

ShoppinginMalawicanrangefromatriptoasupermarket,toaquickvisittoasmalltownstore,orevenastop-offataroadsidestallinthemiddleofnowhere.Handcraftedsouvenirsareapopularchoicefor

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Malawi in Brief

mostvisitors.Visitingamarketorasmallvillageoffersagreatopportunitytobarters,aswellastosoakupthetraditionalAfricaatmosphere.ShopsinMalawi open relatively early. Theyalso tend to closeearlier than inEuropeandNorthAmerica,soitisadvisablenottoleaveyourshoppingtothelastminute.

Malawiboastsofseveralofitsownsupermarketchainsincluding,Peoples,Shoprite,Poundstretcher,ChipikuStoresandGameStores. In themorecosmopolitancitiesofLilongweandBlantyre, is itpossible tofindafewEuropean-styleshopsaswell.

Lilongwe’s Old Town Mall, located close to the NICO Centre, cartersperfectlyforvisitorslookingforsomethingspecialtotakehome.TheMall’sshops offer everything from craft items and gifts to upmarket clothingand fast food. The newerGatewayMall locatedon Lilongwe’sMchinjiRoundabout,isalsoapopularplacetoshop.

Moreadventurousvisitorsmight like toventure intoMalawi’smanycraftmarketstobuyinterestingexamplesoflocalcraftwork.Inparticularlookoutforwoodcarvingsandwovenstrawitems.InLilongwe,acraftmarketregularlyheldbythecity’spostoffice.VisitorstravellingaroundMalawiareoftentemptedbylocalmarketsandroadsidesellersplyingtheirtradeoftraditionalcraftworkandlocalart.

BusinesshoursNormalbusinessoperatinghoursare:7.30a.mto12noon,and1.30p.mto5:00p.mfromMondaythroughFriday.

Mostofficescloseforlunch.Banksopenat8:00a.mandclosefor business at 3.00pmwith no lunchbreak in between fromMondaythroughtoFridayandonSaturdaysfrom8.30amandcloseat11:00a.m

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Malawi in Brief

10.0 Entry Requirements

TherearenoinoculationrequirementsforentryintoMalawibutvisasarerequiredbyallenteringthecountryexceptnationalsof:Belgium,theUnitedKingdom, Denmark, Italy, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland,Japan,Norway,Portugal,Spain,SanMarino,Sweden, LiechtensteinandtheUSA.

Passport/visanote:AllvisitorsmusthaveareturnoronwardticketandalldocumentsnecessaryforreturnononwardjourneyforthedurationofthestayinMalawi.Extensionsonvisasarepossible.Pleasenotethatpassportandvisarequirementsareliabletochange.Travelersarethereforeadvisedtochecktheirentryrequirementspriortoembarkingontheirjourney.

PUBLICHOLIDAYSNEWYEAR’SDAY JANUARY1ST

CHILEMBWEDAY JANUARY15thMARTYR’SDAY MARCH3RDGOODFRIDAY MARCH/APRILEASTERMONDAY MARCH/APRILLABOURDAY MAY1STKAMUZUDAY MAY14THREPUBLICDAY JULY6THMOTHERSDAY OCTOBER15thEIDALFITR ENDOFRAMADANCHRISTMASDAY DECEMBER25THBOXINGDAY DECEMBER26TH

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Malawi in Brief

Malawi investMent and trade centrePrivate Bag 302,

Lilongwe 3, Malawi.

Tel: +265 770 800 / +265 771 315;Fax: +265 771 781

Email: ossc@mitc.mwWebsite: www.mitc.mw

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