Tanzania, Malawi target value chains
DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA and Malawi are seeking to turn rising bilateral trade into deeper investment and industrial partnerships, with both countries pushing for cross-border value chains to expand manufacturing, add value to raw materials and open wider regional markets.
Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE) Director General, Mr Ephraim Mafuru said Malawi had become an increasingly important market for Tanzanian products, with exports rising from about 64 million US dollars in 2021 to 89.5 million US dollars in 2025.
He said the growth provides a foundation for moving beyond finished goods into investment, agro-processing and manufacturing partnerships.
“The two countries are now seeking to expand that trade through investment, agro-processing and manufacturing partnerships,” Mr Mafuru said on Monday in Dar es Salaam during the Tanzania-Malawi Business and Investment Forum 2026.
He said the forum’s success should be measured by contracts, investments and new business partnerships rather than the number of meetings held.
Malawi’s Minister for Industry, Business, Trade and Tourism, Mr Itaye Simon, said the private sector should drive the next phase of bilateral economic cooperation, while governments focus on infrastructure and creating a predictable business environment.
He proposed a valuechain model in which Malawi supplies agricultural raw materials such as soybeans to Tanzania for processing into poultry feed, before Malawi supplies finished poultry products back to the Tanzanian market.
“This is about turning our geographical proximity into market proximity,” Mr Simon said, calling for lower business costs and concrete commercial deals. Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Denis Londo said Tanzania has about 6 million US dollars in untapped export potential in Malawi, including opportunities worth 1.9 million US dollars for furnishing articles and 1.6 million US dollars for sanitary parts.
Other opportunities include ceramic tiles, paving products, vegetable seeds, soap, detergents and flat rolled iron and steel products.
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The opportunities could enable Tanzanian manufacturers to expand into Malawi while strengthening production links between businesses in the two countries.
Officials also highlighted Tanzania’s strategic position as Malawi’s gateway to international markets through the Port of Dar es Salaam.
As a landlocked country, Malawi relies heavily on Tanzanian transport infrastructure to move goods to and from international markets, making efficient and affordable transport important to business competitiveness.
Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) Director of Investment Promotion George Mkono said Tanzania wants Malawian producers to process raw materials in the country and use it as a base to access wider regional markets.
He said such investments could support Tanzania’s industrialisation ambitions while giving Malawian businesses access to both SADC and EAC markets.
Tanzania is also seeking to strengthen road, rail and port infrastructure to support regional trade, the officials said. The forum brought together government agencies and businesses from both countries and featured more than 80 exhibitors.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Malawi, Agnes Kayola, said Malawi offers opportunities as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), while Tanzania provides access to both SADC and East African Community (EAC) markets.
She said Tanzania’s exports to Malawi include maize, soap and detergents, cosmetics, transport equipment, plastics, glassware, wheat flour, beverages and salt.
She said the growing share of manufactured and value-added goods creates opportunities for stronger industrial cooperation and regional value chains.
