- Jane Nyirenda
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A two-day MMIF2024 has started today in Malawi with President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera calling on authorities not to sign any contract that does not guarantee a return on investment for Malawi and for Malawians, who deserve to be the primary beneficiaries of this country's mineral riches.
The Ministry of Mining has said it is set to hold the first-ever edition of the Malawi Mining Investment Forum (MMIF) from the 23rd to the 24th at the Bingu International Conventional Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The forum will be held under the theme “Transforming the Nation through Sustainable Mineral Extraction".
Speaking to the press on Friday, Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno said the two-day Forum which is expected to attract over 300 participants drawn from around the globe, is part of the ATM promotional week, which President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera announced a few weeks ago.
Chang’anamuno said Malawi is endowed with various mineral resources, including rare earth elements (REEs), graphite, uranium, gold, and gemstones, among others and that the forum will be a good platform to provide information that investors need so that they know what we have in Malawi.
“This is going to benefit the country a lot because it will unearth the potential that is there in the country so that a lot of investors can come and invest in our country.
“At the same time not just to invest in exploration and mining but there are also other projects that are already existing and there are investors that would want to be part of these projects,” she said.
The Minister further said the government intends to grow the mining sector to contribute to at least 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Chang'anamuno called upon development partners, companies, individuals and other stakeholders in the mining sector to participate in the upcoming forum, which is an opportunity for exploring potential partnerships and investments.
“There is going to be a lot of networking that is going to take place during this time therefore it is very important for even other service providers not just those who are doing mining activities but they have other services that they can provide to those that are doing mining. This is their opportunity to come and attend this forum to see where they can provide their services,” the Minister said.
Azurite Management and Consultancy, a professional and technical advisor for mining, exploration, oil and gas from Tanzania has opened its doors in Malawi.
This follows a series of engagements which included the recent interaction the firm had with the Malawi delegation led by the Minister of Mining Monica Chang’anamuno MP at the Tanzania Mining and Investment Forum in Dar Salaam that was held from 25 to 26 October, 2023.
Speaking when Azurite officials made a courtesy call to the Ministry of Mining, the company’s Director Christer Mhingo said they are here to support investment in the mining sector by nurturing client relations with key government authorities.
“We focus on providing general business support to foreign and local investors in Sub-Saharan, especially in the mineral exploration and mining sector. We help them to register, we do exploration management and we also do country risk assessments among them,” Mhingo said.
Rio Tinto, Lindian Resources Limited, Lindian Resources Limited, Globe Metals and others are some of the potential Azurite Management and Consultancy partners and clients.
The officials from Azurite held meetings with different companies involved in exploration and mining in Malawi including those that have expressed interest.
Minister of Mining Hon Monica Chang'anamuno MP expressed her commitment to support any investment in the mining sector.
She further indicated that the investment fora that she has attended are now bearing fruits.
“More investors have come to Malawi to obtain further information on our mineralization and basic mineral data has been made available for them to make informed decisions,” Chang’anamuno said.
Ministry of Mining Principal Secretary Dr Joseph Mkandawire said mineralization is spread throughout the country and that collaboration services Azurite is offering are most welcome.
Mkandawire noted that more investors are needed in the area of in-depth exploration.
Ministry of Mining,
P.O Box 251,
Lilongwe, MALAWI
Tel: +265-1-755 303
Matamando House,
City Center, Lilongwe