Malawi took centre stage at the Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan on Wednesday, with a high-level business engagement designed to position the country as a strategic investment destination—particularly for Japanese investors.
At the National Day celebrating Malawi, Minister of Trade, Vitumbiko Mumba, delivered a keynote address spotlighting the country’s untapped investment potential in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, mining, and manufacturing.
Mumba commended the Government of Japan for its long standing diplomatic and economic ties with Malawi and encouraged Japanese investors to forge new partnerships.
“Our goal is to build sustainable partnerships that can unlock the full potential of Malawi’s economy,” said Mumba. “We invite Japanese investors to be part of our development journey and tap into the vast, underutilised opportunities our country offers.”
To strengthen these prospects, the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, hosted a dedicated Malawi-Japan Business Forum on the sidelines of the Expo. The forum brought together business leaders, government officials, and potential investors for targeted discussions on trade and investment opportunities.
Speaking during the forum, Principal Secretary for Trade, Christina Zakeyu, reaffirmed Malawi’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment and called on Japanese private sector players to consider Malawi as a stable and promising destination for long-term investment.
MITC Director General, Kruger Phiri, addressed the current trade imbalance between the two countries, noting that Malawi continues to import a significant volume of goods from Japan. He urged Japanese companies to consider establishing local operations in Malawi to reduce this gap and foster mutual growth.
“Setting up business operations in Malawi will not only reduce trade friction but also create localised value chains that benefit both countries,” said Phiri.
Malawi’s strategic engagement at Expo 2025 Osaka underscores its broader mission to diversify the economy, attract Foreign Direct Investment and enhance its visibility as a rising market in the global economic landscape.
