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| Second left: Hon. Simon Itaye, Malawi’s Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism and Guest of Honour, visits the Ecobank Pavilion during the Tanzania–Malawi Business and Investment Forum. Right: Ms. Furaha Samalu, Head of Brand and Communication, Ecobank Tanzania. |
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| Colleagues from Ecobank Malawi during the Tanzania–Malawi Business and Investment Forum. Second left: Ms. Alinafe Chikudzу, Head of Trade, Ecobank Malawi; third left: Ms. Tisaiwale Khomba Milandu, Head of SME, Ecobank Malawi. |
DAR ES SALAAM - September 10, 2026: Tanzania and Malawi are exploring new opportunities to deepen trade, investment and business partnerships following the Third Tanzania–Malawi Business and Investment Forum, which brought together government leaders, investors, businesses and other stakeholders from the two countries.
The Forum, organised by the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE) and the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC), provided a platform for the private and public sectors to identify opportunities for expanding commercial relations between the two neighbouring countries.
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| Ephraim Mafuru, Director General of TANTRADE (right), shakes hands with Ms. Furaha Samalu, Head of Brand and Communication, Ecobank Tanzania, at the Ecobank Pavilion during the Third Tanzania–Malawi Business and Investment Forum in Dar es Salaam. |
Ecobank Tanzania was among the key financial-sector participants at the Forum, engaging with businesses and stakeholders on opportunities to strengthen cross-border trade, investment and access to financial solutions.
Held at the Saba Saba grounds in Dar es Salaam under the theme “Unlocking Tanzania–Malawi Opportunities: Driving Trade, Investment and Sustainable Growth,” the Forum focused on sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, tourism, ICT and logistics.
Malawi’s Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, Hon. Simon Itaye, joined the Forum as Guest of Honour and officially opened the event.
The discussions come at a time when trade between Tanzania and Malawi is continuing to grow, creating an opportunity for businesses in both countries to move beyond traditional trade towards joint investment, manufacturing, value addition and cross-border value chains.
TRADE BETWEEN TANZANIA AND MALAWI ON THE RISE
Speaking at the closing of the Forum, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Agnes Kayola, called on governments and the private sectors of both countries to transform growing trade opportunities into investments in joint manufacturing ventures and value addition.
According to Kayola, Tanzania’s exports to Malawi increased from US$64.05 million in 2021 to US$89.47 million in 2025, while the trade balance reached US$74.30 million.
The growth demonstrates that the two countries already have a strong foundation for commercial cooperation, but also points to considerable room for further expansion.
For businesses, the next opportunity is to increase not only the volume of goods traded but also the amount of investment taking place across the two markets.
FROM TRADING GOODS TO MAKING THINGS TOGETHER
One of the most important implications of the Forum is the call for Tanzania and Malawi to move from simply trading goods towards joint production and value addition.
For Tanzanian and Malawian businesses, this could mean partnerships in which companies combine raw materials, technology, capital, expertise and market access to produce goods for domestic and regional markets.
Such cooperation could strengthen supply chains while creating opportunities for industrialisation, employment, skills development and increased value retention within the two economies.
The potential is particularly significant in agriculture, where businesses can collaborate across production, processing, packaging, storage, transportation and distribution.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR TANZANIAN BUSINESSES
For Tanzanian businesses, Malawi represents an opportunity to expand into a neighbouring market while building longer-term regional operations.
Companies operating in agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, mining services, logistics, tourism, ICT and construction could explore opportunities to:
- Export products and services to Malawi.
- Establish distribution and supply partnerships.
- Form joint ventures with Malawian companies.
- Invest in manufacturing and processing.
- Develop cross-border agricultural value chains.
- Supply mining and infrastructure projects.
- Develop logistics and transport services.
The opportunity is particularly relevant for SMEs seeking to diversify their customer base and expand beyond Tanzania's domestic market.
MALAWIAN BUSINESSES CAN TAP TANZANIA'S MARKET AND TRADE INFRASTRUCTURE
The opportunity is equally important for Malawian businesses.
Tanzania provides access to a large consumer and business market, established financial services and logistics infrastructure, as well as connections to international markets through its ports and transport corridors.
Malawian companies could therefore explore Tanzania as a market for their products while also establishing partnerships with Tanzanian manufacturers, distributors, investors and service providers.
For exporters, improved connectivity through Tanzania could also strengthen access to international markets.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND BORDER CONNECTIVITY MATTER
The expansion of trade will depend heavily on efficient transport and logistics infrastructure.
High Commissioner Kayola noted that the Tanzanian government is continuing to improve port infrastructure and transport corridors, including the Kasumulu–Songwe border crossing, to facilitate trade between Tanzania and Malawi.
For businesses, improvements in border infrastructure can translate into lower transportation costs, faster movement of goods and greater predictability in cross-border trade.
This makes logistics an important part of the investment conversation—not simply a support service.
AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURING AND MINING OFFER MAJOR POTENTIAL
Agriculture remains one of the most promising areas for cooperation.
Businesses can explore opportunities throughout the agricultural value chain, including inputs, production, processing, packaging, storage and distribution.
Manufacturing offers another significant opportunity, particularly where companies can combine resources from both countries to establish production facilities capable of serving wider markets.
In mining, opportunities extend beyond extraction to suppliers of equipment, engineering, technology, transportation, financial services and other specialised services.
Energy investment will also be important in supporting industrialisation and productive activity.
TOURISM AND ICT ADD NEW DIMENSIONS
Tourism and ICT provide additional opportunities for private-sector collaboration.
Tourism businesses could explore partnerships linking attractions and experiences in Tanzania and Malawi, while hotels, tour operators and other service providers could develop products targeting regional and international travellers.
ICT, meanwhile, can help businesses overcome some of the traditional barriers to cross-border commerce through digital payments, communication, e-commerce and improved access to market information.
ECOBANK'S ROLE AS A BUSINESS ENABLER
For businesses seeking to take advantage of these opportunities, access to finance and efficient payment systems will be critical.
This is where Ecobank Tanzania's participation in the Forum is particularly relevant.
As businesses explore cross-border opportunities, they require solutions covering trade finance, working capital, payments, foreign exchange and investment financing.
A financial institution with a regional presence can help businesses manage some of the financial requirements associated with operating across borders.
Ecobank's engagement at the Forum therefore reinforces the importance of connecting business opportunities with the financial solutions required to execute them.
For SMEs in particular, access to the right banking partner can be an important factor in successfully entering a new market, securing trade transactions and scaling operations.
DELEGATES TO EXPLORE KWALA LOGISTICS CENTRE AND SEZ
The Forum's focus on practical investment opportunities is also reflected in the planned visit by delegates to the Kwala Logistics Centre and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The visit provides businesses and investors from Malawi with an opportunity to see first-hand infrastructure and facilities that could support logistics, manufacturing and other investments in Tanzania.
It also creates a platform for Tanzanian and Malawian stakeholders to move from general discussions towards identifying specific investment opportunities.
THE BIGGER OPPORTUNITY: CROSS-BORDER VALUE CHAINS
The Forum points to a potentially important shift in Tanzania–Malawi economic relations.
Instead of viewing the two countries simply as markets for each other's products, businesses can increasingly view them as complementary investment and production destinations.
Cross-border value chains could allow businesses to source raw materials in one market, process them in another and distribute finished products across the region.
Such arrangements could increase competitiveness while supporting industrialisation and creating employment.
FROM FORUM DISCUSSIONS TO REAL DEALS
The ultimate measure of the Forum will be what happens after the delegates return to their respective businesses.
The opportunity now is to convert meetings and discussions into investment commitments, joint ventures, manufacturing projects, supply agreements, financing arrangements and increased trade.
Governments have a role to play in improving infrastructure, trade facilitation and the business environment.
Organisations such as TANTRADE and MITC can continue connecting businesses and promoting investment opportunities.
Financial institutions such as Ecobank can support businesses with the financial and payment infrastructure required to execute cross-border transactions.
And, ultimately, businesses themselves must take the initiative to identify viable opportunities and invest.
BUILDING A STRONGER TANZANIA–MALAWI BUSINESS CORRIDOR
The growth in Tanzania's exports to Malawi—from US$64.05 million in 2021 to US$89.47 million in 2025—shows that the commercial relationship is already developing.
The next phase could be more transformative if the two countries succeed in converting growing trade into joint manufacturing, value addition, investment and stronger regional supply chains.
For Tanzania, this could mean new markets for its businesses, increased investment and stronger regional integration.
For Malawi, it could provide greater access to Tanzania's market, infrastructure and international trade connections.
And for businesses in both countries, it creates an opportunity to build partnerships that go beyond buying and selling towards investing and producing together.
The Tanzania–Malawi Business and Investment Forum has therefore provided an important platform for stakeholders to identify these opportunities. The challenge now is to turn the momentum generated into tangible business outcomes.
Stronger trade. More investment. Joint value creation. A stronger Tanzania–Malawi business corridor.
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