As the Malawi’s exports have struggled lately, contributing to a $1.1 billion trade deficit, the National Trade Facilitation Action Plan, has been touted as means of reducing import and export costs by 40%.

The plan aims at attracting foreign investors by what it calls radical simplification and harmonization of all trade-related procedures including the single integrated information system or electronic single window.

During the launch of the plan, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Francis Kasaila attributed the country’s landlocked state as a major contributor to high cost of doing business, as territorial access to the sea is limited.