By Brenda Kayo:
The Malawi Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese company HongTai Investment Group for the construction of three lake vessels and a modern port at Monkey Bay.
The project, which is expected to be completed within two years, will initially receive $20 million from the Chinese investor.
The vessels will serve major lake transport routes, including Monkey Bay and Chipoka, while the port development will include improvements to supporting logistics infrastructure.
Secretary for Transport and Public Works Bright Kumwembe said the project would strengthen water transport and improve connectivity on Lake Malawi.
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“The project will provide better movement of people and goods while supporting economic activities in communities along the lake,” Kumwembe said.
He added that improved lake transport would provide an alternative means of moving goods and people while complementing the country’s road transport network.
HongTai Investment Group secretary Junming Shan said the partnership would also support port upgrades, logistics infrastructure, skills development for Malawians and community development projects.
He said the investment would contribute to sustainable transport and deepen economic cooperation between Malawi and China.
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“In terms of collaborative development, we will use lake transport as a link to help Malawi establish land-lake intermodal transport channels, allowing Malawi’s high-quality products to reach the world more smoothly and enabling high-quality global resources to enter Malawi more conveniently,” Shan said.
He added that the development would help unlock opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and other industries by improving the movement of goods.
The port is expected to improve cargo handling and provide better facilities for vessels operating on the lake.
The project could also provide an alternative route for transporting agricultural produce and manufactured goods, particularly for communities and businesses around the lake.
The skills development component is expected to create opportunities for Malawians to acquire technical and professional skills in marine transport, port management, logistics and vessel operations.
