Malawi and Tanzania advance economic reforms in agriculture and mining

Malawi and Tanzania are implementing strategic economic reforms focused on agriculture and mining to drive national development.

In Malawi, the government is working to transform the agricultural sector from production-focused to commercially-driven to meet the goals of the Malawi 2063 vision. This includes increasing value addition and exports to boost national income. Simultaneously, Malawi is targeting a significant increase in mining's GDP contribution, aiming for 10–15% by 2030 through legal reforms and the attraction of foreign investment in critical minerals like graphite and rare earth elements. Japanese firms have shown renewed interest in Malawi’s agriculture, manufacturing, and processing sectors.

Tanzania is also intensifying its mining sector oversight and exploration. The government has directed the Geological Survey Tanzania to provide better geological data to small-scale miners and expand exploration coverage. Additionally, the Mining Commission has issued 30-day notices to 42 non-operational small-scale mining projects, warning of potential legal action. The Tanzanian government also affirmed that mining permits will continue to be issued in protected areas, provided they comply with environmental safeguards and statutory requirements from agencies such as the Tanzania Forest Services Agency.