Southern African Trade and Connectivity Project (Malawi)
Maputo, Mozambique – March 2, 2025
In a significant move to bolster regional trade, the Governments of Malawi and Mozambique are participating in the SQAM INNOQ exchange visit, part of the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP), supported by the World Bank. The visit, which occurred from March 2 to March 7, 2025, aims to enhance trade efficiency along the Nacala corridor, a vital route for commerce between the two nations
The SATCP is one of Africa’s largest initiatives aimed at improving trade coordination, reducing costs, and enhancing infrastructure accessibility within Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique. Implemented by the transport ministries of the three countries, the project focuses on developing regional value chains, streamlining trade processes, and addressing various costs associated with cross-border trade.
“Our goal is to create a more efficient and cost-effective trading environment,” said the leader of the Malawi Delegation, Mr. Thomas Senganimalunje the Deputy Director General for MBS. “By addressing behind-the-border and at-the-border costs, we can significantly reduce barriers for exporting and importing firms.”
Key to the success of this initiative is the Standards Quality Assurance and Metrology (SQAM) framework, which seeks to align standards and sanitary procedures with international best practices. Cooperation among regional trading partners is crucial for the effective implementation of these strategies. During this exchange visit, delegates from Malawi and Mozambique will focus on critical objectives, including:
Harmonization of standards in quality assurance and metrology.
Skill development in conformity assessment and regulation adherence for commonly traded products.
Establishing mutual recognition frameworks and agreements.
This marks the second cluster visit to Mozambique, following the 7th Nacala Development Corridor Management meeting held in February 2023, where a collaborative work plan was established. The visiting delegations aim to achieve several key deliverables, including finalizing the Standards Harmonization workplan, completing a competence gap analysis, developing a report on the visit’s findings, initiating technical regulation framework concepts between the two nations’ Trade and Commerce Ministries and completing the Mutual Recognition Framework.
As this exchange concludes, the collaborating nations are expected to gain clarity on future actions, which will be presented at the upcoming Nacala Corridor meeting in Malawi. This initiative represents a critical step toward enhancing trade and economic collaboration in Southern Africa, promising a brighter future for regional trade relations.
