By Wadza Botomani
A delegation of Malawian exporters is actively pursuing new trade links with North Africa at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers. The event, valued at $44 billion, has drawn twelve Malawian companies from sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, ceramics, and financial services to showcase their products.
Leading the delegation, Secretary for Trade and Industry Christina Zakeyo stated the government is committed to repositioning Malawi as an export-driven economy. She emphasized that the fair provides a crucial platform for local businesses to connect with buyers and understand new market requirements. Zakeyo highlighted significant potential for Malawian agricultural products like groundnuts, rice, tea, and coffee in the North African region, where demand is high.
She also addressed the broader challenge of intra-African trade, which accounts for only 15 percent of the continent’s total trade, a figure far lower than in Europe or Asia. Zakeyo pointed to the fair as an ideal venue for discussions on simplifying customs, adopting digital payment systems, and improving cross-border logistics to overcome these barriers. Malawi’s participation was supported by the Export Development Fund, Standard Bank, UNDP, and GIZ.
