Lake Malawi is the main source of fish for domestic demand. However, output has rapidly declined over the years due to over-fishing. Malawi tilapia is high demand both locally and in Zimbabwe and South Africa. To exploit this market opportunity, the Malawi development corporation, a government investment arm, embarked on an aquaculture project in the Southern part of Malawi. The corporation is therefore looking for technical parties in the fish-farming project. The project is community based and initial project cost is US$ 3.4 million. The project envisages the produce of 1,200 tons of fish per year. Apart from domestic consumption, fish will be exported to neighbouring countries and the European Union where there is a strong market for such produce. 2.0 Soya Bean Oil-Extraction Malawi produces more than 35,000 metric tons of soya beans per year. Most of the soya bean is exported raw and little is processed for food domestically. Malawi’s soil is very conducive to soya bean cultivation and farm gate prices are internationally competitive. Malawian farmers would overwhelmingly respond to increased demand for soya. Malawi imports crude oil for refining into cooking oil. An opportunity therefore exists in investment in soya bean oil extraction and tofu making. There is high demand for cooking oil both locally as well as in the SADC/COMESA region. 3.0 Rubber Products Manufacturing An investment opportunity exists to manufacture rubber-based products in Malawi. Malawi has rubber trees for the production of latex rubber at the rate of 1,300 tons per annum. Currently a company intends to increase its production to 4,000 tons and is looking for a technical partner. 10% of the total tonnage is used locally for tyre re-treading, paint and mattress manufacturing. The rest is exported to Europe and North America. There is therefore an opportunity to invest in rubber down stream industries for products like shoes, bags, mats and motor vehicle products for local consumption as well as for the regional markets. The regional market comprises: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola. There are also opportunities to export to the DR Congo, Kenya and Uganda. Factory space and labour at competitive rates are available. 4.0. Wood Processing Malawi has a large plantation of both soft and hard wood, which the government is offering for concession for investment in wood processing. The plantations are located in all three regions of Malawi. Joint venture and concession opportunity exists in both plantations and Timber production. |