The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism says it is developing a National Implementation Strategy to ensure that Malawi fully benefits from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Government has for long been assessing the AfCTA, while other business players commented that the agreement is too costly for Malawi. The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), also added that local businesses are not yet ready for AfCFTA due to lack of competitiveness.

The implementation strategy announced by the Ministry of Trade, follows a call by a Law professor at Stellenbosch University, who urged African governments to prepare mechanisms that would facilitate smooth trade among member states under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).

The advice follows a sensitization workshop in Malawi that will bring together all trade stakeholders to engage them towards African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement being ratified.