Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism Edgar Tembo has asked Japanese businesses to explore investment opportunities in Malawi’s key growth sectors. He made the call on Friday during a business symposium organised by the Japanese Embassy in Lilongwe. In his address, Tembo outlined opportunities in industrialisation and value addition, trade facilitation reforms and sustainable tourism development.
He also highlighted renewable energy, logistics and digitalisation as critical sectors for boosting productivity and competitiveness. Japanese Ambassador Naito Yasushi, who earlier in the day presented his credentials to President Peter Mutharika, said he was honoured to deliver his first major address in Malawi at an event focused on deepening economic ties. He said the symposium aligns with Japan’s broader engagement with Africa through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad), citing outcomes of Ticad-9 held in Yokohama in 2024, which emphasised public-private partnerships.
“In the long term, Japanese companies tend to establish deep roots, invest in local skills and build sustainable businesses once committed,” said Yasushi, pledging to prioritise strengthening bilateral relations and supporting Malawi’s sustainable development agenda. Both Tembo and Yasushi said addressing global challenges such as climate change, energy insecurity and food system disruptions requires collaboration between governments, the private sector, academia and development partners. The event brought together government officials, diplomats, Japanese and Malawian business representatives, academics and the media, with participants encouraged to forge partnerships and translate dialogue into tangible investments.
