On Friday, the stakeholders in the trade sector met to discuss on best practices which Malawi can follow to enhance its trade activities.Principal Secretary for in the Ministry of Trade Christina Zakeyo underscored the importance of having better regulation and reforms in the way trade activities are currently being done in order to achieve Malawi’s 2063 agenda of job and wealth creation.

“Malawi has been exporting to EU using everything but arms initiative but we believe  that is not enough as other countries have signed over the agreement,’’  Zakeyo said.  

One of the private sector companies lobbying government to sign over the Economic Partnership Agreement of the European Union is Japan Tobacco International-JTI. Corporate Affairs and Communications Director for JTI Limbani Kakhome who said the instrument will benefit both the private and public sector in the export drive of goods to international markets and not just limited to Africa.  

“The EU is the major export destination for a lot of our commodities like tobacco, tea and sugar among other products. We need to be part of the Economic Partnership Agreement of the EU for the benefit of both the private and public sector’’, Kakhome said.

Meanwhile, chairperson of Parliamentary Committee on Trade and Tourism Simplex Chithyola Banda said parliament will continue passing legislations that will support the private sector to thrive and allow investors to invest in Malawi.