Malawi must take advantage of the huge potential offered by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area agreement by taking necessary steps to drive down the time and cost of trading, both regionally and globally. British High Commissioner to Malawi, David Beer made the call at Mchinji Border post on Friday 7th May 2021 when the UK Government in partnership with TradeMark East Africa officially handed over quarantine and screening facilities in key border posts of Mwanza, Dedza and Songwe and Mchinji borders to the Malawi Ministry of Health to support its capacity and fight against COVID-19.
The facilities, which are part of a wider £0.5 million (MWK 400m) UK funded Safe Trade Emergency Facility, will ensure safety of border users and frontline personnel during the pandemic, and undisrupted flow of goods and services across the key borders.HE David Beer said:“From informal traders to big businesses, cross-border trade drives regional business and investment into Malawi, as well as being a vital source of income for many people.
The UK is helping traders to do their business legally and safely, so they do not just survive the economic consequences of COVID-19, but can thrive.”Beer further disclosed that the UK will support a new programme over the next 5 years which is aimed at driving down the time and cost of trading to make Malawi’s exports competitive. In addition, the UK will support Malawi Government and the private sector to diversify Malawi’s narrow export base, attract new foreign and domestic investment, scale up production and add value to export products before they leave the country, so that more profits stay in country.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Christina Zakeyo said the facilities will go a long way in containing the spread of the disease while at the same time facilitating smooth trade flows across the four main borders and corridors.
