Trade and Investment Cooperation Build their Economic Ties with Malawi

Introduction

Emmanuel Akwerana Ezekiel is a representative of KONA to the government Malawi. My responsibilities are to ensure that there is a strong diplomatic ties between the decentralised Kingdom of New Atlantis and the government of Malawi. Some of the areas which will be focused as an ambassador to Malawi will be as follows:
The Decentralized Kingdom of New Atlantis (Wisdom Land) through its Department of Diplomatic Missions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeks, among others, to promote sustainable solutions to trade and investment within its territory and beyond. The Kingdom’s constitution and foreign policy touts that its national interest affirms the principle of an inclusive and sustainable transformational development enshrined in the United Nations Agenda 2030.

Hence, in its promotion of its national interest, the Kingdom of New Atlantis has launched the implementation of comprehensive and sustainable development mechanisms aimed at building strong economic relationship with the government of the Republic of Malawi. This initiative is of mutual benefit to both these two countries. It will increase the flow of trade and investments between them. And will foster a culture of productivity and peaceful coexistence among the people of these nation-states.

Trade and Investment Opportunities

The Kingdom of New Atlantis is a land of opportunities from which its allies can tap from. The Crown and its decentralized government are committed to contribute human development through trade and investment with other countries in the global south. Hence, it has embarked on establishing economic ties with different countries. One of such countries it aims to partner with is the Republic of Malawi, one the list developing countries (LDCs) located in South-East Africa bordering with Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The Kingdom understands the challenges and priority areas on which it can cooperate with the Republic of Malawi. Evidently, Malawi is endowed with good topography, has in recent years removed several barriers to trade and investments, and has also done some improvement in infrastructure development, education, and health. Additionally, has signed a number of bilateral and multilateral treaties to boost trade and investments. And it has a large youthful population in the job market capable of using their competencies, knowledge, and skills to promote national development.

Yet, studies and policy documents show that Malawi has been historically facing annual trade deficits and poverty and inequalities widening amongst different social groups nation-wide. This is partly due to factors such as low local productivity which is a result of limited access to markets, finance, information, poor health system, and weak multi-modal transport connectivity. The other challenge is weak input markets which have contributed to stagnation in agricultural productivity since the late 1990s. Further, in the said country innovation at scale is relatively absent in the private sector. And Malawi is blighted by reversals in both in-ward and out-ward foreign direct investments (FDI) if compared to other countries in South-East African region.

Hence, the Kingdom of New Atlantis is geared to seek deeper economic ties with the Republic of Malawi in the following thematic areas. This cooperation will enable both countries to build strong competitive edge, integrate in the global economy, and sustainably thrive. They will materially and normatively contribute to the building and maintenance of sustainable peace and development in the world.

Thematic Areas of Economic Cooperation

Here are the said key areas central to the economic aspect of the foreign policies the two countries shall cooperate on:

Trade and Investments in Agriculture. Malawi is one of the countries in the world that mainly depends on agricultural productivity. Agriculture sector contributing around 30% to the gross domestic product (GDP). Malawi has rich with fertile soils conducive for cultivation of a variety of crops like tobacco, maize (staple food), cassava, coffee, soya beans, tea, sugar cane, beans, sweet potatoes, macadamia nuts, and horticultural foods, fruits. The agricultural sector employs almost 80% of the population in the country. However, as earlier indicated, since 1990s it has lost the status it earlier occupied in the economy. Thus, the Kingdom of New Atlantis aims to cooperate with the Malawian government to improve productivity in this sector. The Kingdom and its people are eager to invest in Malawi by investing in export oriented clusters for diversification. For example, in manufacturing of oil seed products, sugar cane products, and beverages, agro-processing (including dairy and maize, wheat, horticulture and pulse value addition), plastics and packaging, assembly. The Kingdom and its people shall cooperate with Malawi to improve farm input market by bringing to Malawi trade and investments in agricultural input manufacturing. And the Kingdom will trade with Malawi farm produce like fresh eggs, maize, soya beans, bananas, groundnuts, cassava flour, coffee, tea, wheat, sunflower oil, sorghum, fish, sugar, fresh or dried macadamia nuts (shelled), dairy, cotton, dried, shelled pigeon peas, pepper, and rice. This has an effect of poverty alleviation and promoting food security in both countries.

Trade and Investments in Mining. The Kingdom understands that Malawi has several different types of mineral deposits. These include, but not limited to, coal, aluminium, lime, and cement. The government of the Decentralized Kingdom of New Atlantic shall propel investors to invest in different projects in this industry as well as identify markets for mining products from Malawi. This will contribute to dealing with poverty, unemployment, and underemployment in Malawi. It will also be critical on passing technology and technical know-how to the Malawi populace.

Trade and Investments in Tourism. Tourism is another area of interest to both Malawi and the Kingdom of New Atlantis. There are great opportunities in this sector investors from both countries should tap in. The Kingdom through different of initiative shall bring numerous investors from its territory to invest in hospitality sector in Malawi. This is particularly so because it understands that Malawi. Tourism will also encourage cross-boarder movement of the people of these two countries. They will exchange cultures, languages, and so on.