The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) helps people and businesses invest and trade in Malawi. It supports anyone who wants to start a business or expand into new markets. MITC offers many services like helping with company registration, finding land, getting permits, and giving business advice. It also supports exporters by giving market information and connecting them to buyers in other countries. 

MITC focuses on important areas like farming, energy, mining, and tourism. With one office handling everything, the process becomes faster and easier. Working with MITC means getting help every step of the way. This article discusses the vision, mission, core values, objectives, and services of MITC. It also covers investment and trade promotion facilities, as well as private sector and public-private partnership agricultural projects.

This blog will cover MITC’s

1. Vision, Mission, Core Values, Objectives
2. MITC Services

A. Investment Promotion Facilities

• Project Appraisal
• Investment Certificates
• Access to Land for Investment
• Business Permits
• Clear Strategic Partnerships
• General Business Advice
• Business Maintenance and Aftercare Services
• Incentives Facilitation
• Inward and Outward Investment Promotion Missions
• Project Profiling
• Company Registration
• Sector Permits and Investor Requirements

.B. Trade Promotion Facilities

• Marketing Intelligence

• Export Development

• Export Promotion

3. Agricultural Private Sector Projects

• Smallholder Outgrower Sugarcane Production Recapitalization Project
• Corn Starch Project
• Spinning Of Cotton Lint Into Yarn
• Lake Malawi Commercial Cage Farming
• Commercial Dairy Production
• Seed Production
• Irrigation Scheme For Macadamia Nut And Tea Plantation.
• Viphya Forest Lot Management 
• Moretons Organic Energy Drink

4. Agriculture Public-Private Partnership Projects:

• The Salima Medium Scale Farmers 1000ha Project
• The Nchalo 3000ha Cotton Project
• The Nthola-Ilola-Ngosi 1000ha Project
• Nthola Illola Ngosi Rice Scheme
• Mbalangwe Industrial Hemp And Livestock Mega Farm
• Aquaponics And Bamboo Plantation Project 
• Wheat Project
• Pineapple Juice Processing Plant

Malawi attains sustainable and transformative economic growth and creates wealth through well targeted investment and trade.

MITC exists to promote and develop Malawian exports, to attract and nurture foreign and domestic direct investment, and to lobby for a conducive business climate in Malawi.

1. Client Focus
2. Team Work
3. Integrity
4. Professionalism
5. Creativity
6. Commitment

1. To provide special support to foreign and local investors in all sectors for industrializing Malawi.
2. To promote and make it easier for the export of products and services of Malawi to get into international markets.
3. Moreover, the centre plays an advisory role to the Government on policies, especially on the business environment.

1. Investment Promotion Facilities

At Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC), helping businesses grow and succeed is the top priority of the organization. Whether it be the setup of a company, finding land, securing permits, or looking for new partners, MITC is ready to help investors at every step. These are what they offer:

• Project Appraisal: Before starting a project, it’s crucial to know how good of an idea it is. MITC helps investors by looking at the project’s financial strength, its benefits, and any social or environmental impacts it might have.

• Investment Certificates: MITC makes it incredibly simple for investors to get started with their initiatives by helping with the quick processing and issuing of Investment Certificates. An Investment Certificate is a key document for any new business.

• Access to Land for Investment: Finding the right location matters. MITC’s Lands Specialist helps investors with finding and observing good land that suits their project needs. This is based on the One Stop Service Centre (OSSC).

• Business Permits: Investors sometimes need special permits to operate projects. Through its Immigration Specialist, MITC helps handle applications for Business Residence Permits and Temporary Employment Permits, making the process faster and less stressful.

• Clear Strategic Partnerships: MITC helps Malawian businesses to link and collaborate with both local and international partners to develop strong partnerships.

• General Business Advice: Starting a business comes with many questions. MITC offers honest advice on where to set up, labor practices to follow, available services, and the business environment in different parts of Malawi.

• Business Maintenance and Aftercare Services: MITC continuously supports  the company even after the project ends. The Centre stays involved, helping businesses solve problems, expand operations, and introduce new opportunities.

• Incentives Facilitation: Investors often qualify for tax breaks and other benefits. MITC helps businesses through the different and effective steps of getting these incentives. This helps them lower their costs and grow faster, and develop investor confidence.

• Inward and Outward Investment Promotion Missions: MITC organizes trips for businesses that want to set into Malawi. They also do this for Malawian companies looking to settle abroad or set up branches. These missions help the businesses, build partnerships, and promote Malawi as a great place to invest and trade.

• Project Profiling: Good projects deserve attention. MITC highlights promising local investment opportunities at exhibitions, seminars, and international events, giving them the spotlight they need to attract investors.

• Company Registration: Getting officially registered is one of the first and foremost steps for any new business. MITC helps investors complete this process quickly without any wrong processes through the One-Stop Service Centre.

• Sector Permits and Investor Requirements: Different sectors often have different rules. MITC helps investors in getting the permits and approvals they need to meet all sector-specific requirements and start operations without delays. 

2. Trade Promotion Facilities

Through the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC)’s trade promotion facilities, MITC provides the information, advice, and practical help that businesses need to grow. The services under this area are organized into three important parts: Market Intelligence, Export Development, and Export Promotion. 

• Marketing Intelligence

MITC provides reliable and up-to-date market information to guide investors and exporters in making smart decisions. Through research reports, market surveys, and sector studies, MITC helps businesses understand where the opportunities are, what challenges to expect, and how to position themselves for success. Access to the right information at the right time can make the difference between a good investment and a great one, and MITC is committed to providing that support.

• Export Development

MITC supports the growth of Malawi’s exports by helping businesses become ready for exporting through services such as:

1. Developing the amount of exporters
2. Connecting exporters with institutions, including financial and quality institutions
3. Easing connections between producers and processors
4. Promoting commercial farming and mass production in important, vital sectors
5. Connecting and working with key investors and shareholders, including government institutions, NGO’s, the private sector, and cooperatives to supply export markets.
6. Ease of development and establishment of rural commodity collection points (warehouses/cold-rooms

• Export Promotion

MITC actively encourages Malawian products across regional and international markets. This is through direct aid and organized events, MITC connects exporters to buyers, investors, and new market opportunities. 

These activities not only immensely encourage businesses to find customers, but also strengthen Malawi’s trade reputation globally. Key export promotion activities include:

1. Help Malawi’s manufacturers and producers find independent markets and grow the number of companies that export by raising their awareness of export chances, and training and guiding them to make their first export sales.
2. Promote Malawi products in foreign markets and boost export sales.
3. Train and guide current and future exporters to strengthen their presence in foreign markets and diversify their products.
4. Find and enter new markets.
5. Grow Malawi’s market share both regionally and internationally.
6. MITC’s trade promotion programme aims to widen and grow the country’s exports by training companies to be ready for export, focusing on sectors listed in the National Export Strategy, and finding potential sectors for growth.

A. Smallholder Outgrower Sugarcane Production Recapitalization Project: The Dwangwa Cane Growers Trust (DCGT) is running the project. The aim is to grow more sugarcane, helping farmers earn more and boosting foreign exchange. 

The project also focuses on reducing poverty and improving food security for small farmers, especially women, around Dwangwa.

B. Corn Starch Project: The Project is owned by the Malbro Investment Group (MIG). The Malbro Group is aiming to improve the health, socioeconomic status, gender equality, and well-being of the ordinary farmer and his family.

C. Spinning of Cotton Lint Into Yarn: Cotton Spinners is a Malawian company owned by Mr. Richard Kazembe, Mr. Stewart Malata, and Mr. Anderson Kulugomba. The company is not initiating the project yet, but the owners have checked the business idea carefully. They plan to make yarn for export first, and later add weaving and knitting to make clothes for export.

D. Lake Malawi Commercial Cage Farming: The project plans to produce 1,000 tons of farmed fish in the first year and grow to 4,000 tons in three years for local and international markets. It will also produce fingerlings for its own use and for selling to other farmers. 

The fish types will be Chambo and Kampango catfish, with fingerlings raised in hatcheries and bigger fish grown in lake cages.

E. Commercial Dairy Production: This project will set up a dairy plant that buys milk from farmers who are given cows to manage. The farmers will own a part of the plant, earn from selling milk, get dividends, and save money.

The plant will produce fresh milk, yoghurts, and juices, with farmers organized into cooperatives that also own 20% of the plant.

F. Seed Production: Afri-Seed Limited is a Malawian company that works with women to produce quality legume seeds using farming, irrigation, and mobile technology. It gives seeds, buyers, farming support, equipment, and packaging to boost production and sales. 

The company has earned over US$2 million a year. It plans to expand by buying seeds, equipment, building warehouses, and setting up distribution centers.

G. Irrigation Scheme For Macadamia Nut And Tea Plantation: Conforzi Plantation Limited grows macadamia nuts and tea on 1,000 hectares using rainwater. To increase production, the company plans to invest in irrigation. This will allow them to grow crops even during the dry season.

H. Viphya Forest Lot Management: The project is owned by Kayola Construction. It aims to manage 584.84 hectares of land in the Viphya Forest by growing trees. The main focus is on both planting and using the trees for production and preservation.

I. Moretons Organic Energy Drink: NutriCare and Afri-Aus Care NGO have partnered for this project. The goal is to make good, affordable, and nutritious food more available. They aim to supply food for local, national, and international markets.

A. The Salima Medium Scale Farmers 1000ha Project: The project is happening at the Chikwawa Scheme in Salima. It uses water from Lake Malawi and the Lingadzi River. Final irrigation designs and tender documents have been prepared. The project, which has been initiated to develop 400 out of 1,000 hectares, is now in progress.

B. The Nchalo 3000ha Cotton Project: The company aims to build 3,000 hectares of its 70,000 hectares of land into a fully irrigated farming block with better and modern equipment.

The goal is to grow crops all year around for the government, build investment opportunities for private companies, and enhance Malawi’s position towards commercial farming. Out of the 3,000 hectares, 1,000 will be used for national food security, and the rest will be divided into 50-hectare blocks for private investors.

C. The Nthola-Ilola-Ngosi 1000ha Project: The project will create 1,000 hectares of land and help 450 households. Its goal is to build wealth, enhance food security, and increase incomes and exports through irrigation and agro-processing. 

Its goal is to lift 4,000 farming families out of poverty, promote better farming methods, increase crop production, improve market access, and strengthen the agriculture sector’s role in the economy.

D. Nthola Illola Ngosi Rice Scheme: The project will help grow the agricultural sector’s share of national income and boost foreign exchange through exports. It will also create jobs and increase employment across the country.

E. Mbalangwe Industrial Hemp and Livestock Mega Farm: The project supports the government’s goals in the MDGS III and Malawi Vision 2063 for boosting agriculture and value addition. It will grow the economy, create more jobs in farming and manufacturing, and help reduce imports and save foreign exchange.

F. Aquaponics and Bamboo Plantation Project: The project will boost the production of fish, biofuel, silk, and livestock, helping to grow national income and earn foreign exchange. 

It supports the goals of MGDS III and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy. Both focus on economic growth through commercial aquaculture.

G. Wheat Project: The project plans to build 500 hectares of land for wheat farming and have an agro-processing facility for local and export markets. It will lease land, do studies, build irrigation systems, and process and market products. This supports the MGDS III goal of increasing irrigated farming and boosting agricultural production.

H.  Pineapple Juice Processing Plant: The project plans to set up a plant to process pineapple juice and other products for local and export markets. It includes enhanced studies, plant design, supply agreements, installing facilities, and marketing, etc. It will create jobs, reduce imports, and help the country earn foreign exchange.

The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) is a strong and great partner for people looking to invest in Malawi or expand their business in Malawi. MITC makes investment and trade processes easier and simpler for investors and foreign businesses with its skillful team, experience, and hardworking values. 

Malawi offers great opportunities in agriculture, energy, tourism, manufacturing, mining, and more. By working with MITC, one can access the support needed to start projects smoothly and find success in a growing and welcoming market. Malawi has a hardworking population and strong trade links in the region. Whether one is starting small or planning a big project, MITC is ready to guide one. 

MITC remains committed to supporting local and international investors at every step, helping them turn good ideas into successful businesses. For anyone seeking new opportunities in Africa, Malawi, with the guidance of MITC, is ready to welcome and grow together.