Mozambique and Malawi have taken a major step towards deepening bilateral trade relations following the construction of the Mandimba Wholesale Market in the border locality of Luelela, Niassa Province.
The cross-border infrastructure project is designed to streamline commercial activity between neighbouring border communities by systematically eliminating both tariff and non-tariff trade barriers. By establishing a centralised trading hub, the initiative aims to boost formal cross-border commerce, stimulate local agricultural production, and encourage micro-enterprise growth across the shared borderland.
Elaborating on the strategic economic objectives of the facility, Dr Andrea Mjuma, Chief Economist at Malawi’s Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation, highlighted the focus on localised economic integration:
“It is to eliminate even trade and non-trade barriers, which have to do with barriers that go beyond the tariffs themselves. The whole essence is to make sure that the value addition complies with the local provisions, to ensure movement across communities as well, not just at a national level.”
The operationalisation of the Mandimba Wholesale Market reflects broader regional efforts under the Southern African Development Community trade protocols to facilitate informal cross-border trade, improve regulatory compliance, and bolster economic resilience among frontline communities.
–ChannelAfrica–
