Malawi has said it is committed to finding ways to reduce transport costs to ensure the country’s exports reach markets at competitive prices while keeping imports relatively affordable.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday when he represented Transport Minister Jappie Mhango at a Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa (Moesna) stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop, Local Government Minister Ben Malunga Phiri said transport costs account for a significant share of the cost of both imports and exports.
Phiri said Malawi’s decision to join the Maritime Organization for Eastern, Southern and Northern Africa reflects the country’s belief that many challenges facing the shipping and maritime sector cannot be effectively addressed by countries acting individually.
He noted that the maritime industry is complex, inherently global and interconnected, and highly capital-intensive, making cooperation among states essential.
“Meaningful progress can best be achieved through strong partnerships and regional collaboration,” Phiri said.
- Advertisement -
He said that through participation in the regional framework, Malawi aims to strengthen logistics systems, improve access to maritime trade routes, secure support for capacity building, ensure reliable connectivity to global markets and reduce the cost of doing business.
Ultimately, he said, the collaboration would help unlock broader opportunities in the maritime and blue economy sectors for sustainable economic growth.
Moesna Secretary- General Kassim Mpaata said that although more than 90 percent of Africa’s international trade is transported by sea, many African countries remain structurally disadvantaged within the global maritime transport system.
He said limited African participation in vessel ownership, externally determined freight structures, fragmented regulatory frameworks, weak maritime connectivity and persistent infrastructure gaps continue to constrain the continent’s ability to fully benefit from maritime trade.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
For land-linked countries such as Malawi, Mpaata said, these challenges are even more pronounced.
Crossborder Traders Association of Malawi member Tabitha Kapengule said traders were excited about Malawi’s involvement with Moesna and hoped it would help reduce transport costs.
