Malawi not invited to Africa Global Business Forum
Malawi has been left out on the list of African countries invited to the 2014 Africa Global Business Forum in Dubai taking place next month.
The Forum is a platform that has been billed as important for African countries’ investment opportunities.
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently announced the list of the African leaders invited to the forum but Malawi’s Arthur Peter Mutharika was not among those on the invited.
So far, according to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry five African presidents, including Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Armando Guebuza of Mozambique; three prime ministers and more than seven ministers have confirmed their attendance.
In an interview Ministry of Industry and Trade spokesperson Wiskes Nkombezi confirmed that Malawi has not been invited and will not attend the forum.
He, however, said the development was not of a major concern since Malawi will have a trade mission in Dubai in November which has been packaged to be as effective as possible.
“We believe that we cannot just be attending each and every forum for the sake of it. The trade mission to Dubai is being organized jointly between government and the private sector. We believe the mission will yield a lot of results,” said Nkombezi.
He said Malawi has benefited a lot during previous trade missions and forums. Nkombezi said that some of the investments that are in the country, including telecommunications, and agriculture are a result of the platforms.
“But the investors being what they are take time to assess the opportunities and, therefore, results may not be immediate,” he added.
Malawi has in the past been urged to use every opportunity available to attract as much investment as possible to create employment, prompt economic growth and development and reduce poverty.
Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) public relations manager Deliby Chimbalu has since said that during the Malawi-United Arab Emirate (UEA) mission, the country will sign two trade agreements-a double taxation agreement (DTA) and an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA).
“This will be apart from exhibiting opportunities in trade and investment that are available in Malawi,” she said.
Although, government is wearing a brave face on the development commentators have said it is worrying since Malawi is already underperforming in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) 2014 Investment Report, Malawi’s 2013 FDI is far below what its neighbours attracted with Mozambique having raked in about $5.9 billion, Zambia $1.8 billion while Tanzania attracted $1.9 billion.
In 2013 the country only managed to attract about $118 million approximately 10 percent lower than the 2012 $129 million. This has been attributed to poor business environment and lack of focus.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
We really have nothing to offer, why should they keep inviting us.? We haven’t made it to that platform yet. We have a long way to go!!!!
Shame, in the first place what business has Malawi that she can offer at the global market if it’s not cashgating? By the way are there expensive hotels for our 60 plus presidential entourage to sleep in? How many days will the forum take? Pajatu ife timafuna ma meetings that last at least a minimum of 30 dys ngati a UN general assembly!
That’s not important!
Should DPP accept? Who doesn’t know that Malawi is a poor country?
that’s what you get full sidelining Mulli Brother’s. Let us see how you will sell Malawi to investor’s as a government. Because you forget that investor’s are usually hesitant to deal with politicians, they prefer dealing with businessmen especially those investor’s from the gulf. That is why preceding government’s have been using Mulli Brother’s to coax investor’s on the international fora. It started with Bakili Muluzi that’s investors flocked to Malawi then. It was a deliberate policy by the UDF government to link private sector player’s with other private sector player’s elsewhere. But who took the credit for it? Muluzi… Read more »
Ndiye bwino kusapitidwe. Adzikataniko as if we export anything? Zautsiru!
WE have useless ideas and indeed no focus. Business Development is about thinking big and not just giving K20000 ngongole to Youths to start Okala.
A country with mediocre professional who cant think big and far has no place in this globalised and fast changing world – what ideas can you contribute to such a global forum?
worry not those are smaller issues
APA NDIYE KUMATI MALAWI IKUCHITA BWINO,BWANJI OSANENA KUTI MALAWI SIKUCHITA BWINO———– PLEASE GOVT/DPP ACCEPT THAT MALAWI IS POOR AND POVERTY IS THERE.