Celso Salles
Population: 20.9 million (July 2023, DEPD)Real GDP Growth: 2.4 percent (April 2023, IMF)GDP per Capita: 645.2 USD (2022, World Bank)Inflation: 26.9 percent (October 2023, NSO)Main SectorsMalawis investment sectors are guided by the 2012 Investment and Export Promotion Act. The following are the key sectors.• Agriculture• Agro-processing• Fisheries• Forestry• Manufacturing• Mining• TourismMalawi is a land-linked country covering 118,500 square meters. The country is surrounded by huge markets on all its fronts, with Mozambique offering a population of 31.26 million people on the east and southwest, Tanzania with over 59.73 million people on the north and northeast, and Zambia 17 million people on the west and northwest. Just beyond this country there are other huge countries such as Zimbabwe which has a population 14.86 million and Democratic Republic of Congo with population of over 89.56 million.All these countries are either member of SADC and COMESA to which Malawi exports manufactured products duty-free as long as they comply with a pre-stipulated minimum of local content. Malawi thus is a hub of production that conveniently directly interfaces three market fronts with a total population of over 100 million people, and indirectly to a market of (Zimbabwe and DRC) within 2-12 hours.The country is blessed with vast natural resources and it enjoys vast tracts of beautiful natural scenery including game reserves and sandy beaches along the beautiful Lake Malawi. Lake Malawi is one of the largest freshwater bodies in the world and holds the most diverse number of fish species in one single body - over 800 species.Democratic principles are firmly engrained in the country; since its independence in 1964, the country has never suffered a civil war and its political leaders have come to power through a democratic electoral process. Free-market principles are also firmly engrained and successive Governments have continued to open up and liberal
