LILONGWE, 9 November 2026 — The Government of Malawi has formally transitioned
from selection to implementation of two major private-sector grant windows under the
Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP), with the presentation of dummy
cheques to beneficiaries of Matching Grants and Business Plan Competitive Grants.
Deputy Minister for Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism Edgar Tembo presided
over the ceremony, which also featured remarks from SATCP Project Manager Hastings
Ngoma. The event marked the culmination of a rigorous, multi-stage selection process under
Component 3 of SATCP, which focuses on strengthening value chains for regional
integration, particularly along the Nacala Corridor.
Under the Matching Grants Programme, 284 medium and large companies submitted
applications. Following assessments by the Ad Hoc Committee, Technical Evaluation
Committee and Investment Committee, eight companies were approved to receive grants
totalling US$2,516,795.
Under the Business Plan Competitive Grants Programme, 1,308 micro and small enterprises
from 15 targeted districts applied. After initial screening, 374 enterprises participated in
business boot camps before pitching to the Pitch Evaluation Committee. Ultimately, 111
enterprises were approved for grants amounting to US$2,022,533.31.
Tembo described the grants as strategic investments rather than simple financial transfers,
aimed at expanding production capacity, adopting modern technologies, improving product
quality, creating jobs and increasing participation in regional and international markets.
“These grants are not simply financial transfers. They are strategic investments in the
productive capacity of our economy,” Tembo said. “We, therefore, expect to see tangible
results in terms of increased production, improved competitiveness, employment creation,
enterprise growth, value addition and increased exports.”
He urged medium and large companies to use the Matching Grants to expand capacity and
strengthen regional value-chain participation, while calling on micro and small enterprises to
convert their business plans into viable, sustainable operations focused on quality, production
and market access.
Ngoma, speaking on behalf of the Project Implementation Unit, welcomed the beneficiaries
into what he called “The Winning Team” and emphasised that the ceremony represented the
shift from design and selection into real delivery.
“Today is not merely a ceremonial occasion. It represents the formal transition from selection
to implementation of one of the most ambitious private-sector financing windows under
SATCP,” Ngoma said. He noted that the strong response from the private sector reflected
genuine demand for productive investment finance and that the selection process had
prioritised fairness, technical quality and value for money.
The ceremony also facilitated the signing of financial agreements between the Government of
Malawi and the beneficiaries, establishing clear obligations on reporting, financial
management and results. An onboarding training programme for Business Plan CompetitiveGrant recipients will cover grant implementation, compliance, financial management and
monitoring requirements.
Both speakers linked the grants to the broader goals of Malawi 2063, which places
industrialisation, productivity and private-sector development at the centre of the country’s
economic transformation agenda. They also expressed appreciation to the World Bank for its
financial and technical support, and to the evaluation committees and Ministry teams that
managed the competitive process.
Tembo closed by congratulating the successful beneficiaries and urging them to use the
opportunity responsibly.
“Let us work together to ensure that these grants translate into increased production, more
jobs, stronger enterprises, greater value addition and improved export performance for
Malawi,” he said.