Promote:
Invest in Malawi
A short guide for companies expanding into Malawi: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Malawi at a glance
PopulationEstimate
22.2 million
Malawi's population was 22,216,120 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Malawi population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$14.9 billion
GDP was US$14.92 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Malawi GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$672
GDP per person was US$671.51 in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Malawi GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
1.9%
Real GDP growth was 1.89 percent in 2025, by the World Bank figure.
Source: World Bank WDI, Malawi real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
19.4%
Annual inflation was 19.4 percent in September 2026, the National Statistical Office's twelve-month rate, down from 20.0 percent in August.
Source: National Statistical Office, consumer price index, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$451.6 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$451.55 million in 2025, per UNCTAD data.
Source: UNCTADstat, Malawi foreign direct investment inflows (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Malawi kwacha.
Source: World Bank WDI, Malawi country metadata (opens in a new tab) · as of October 8, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC).
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
As of 2024, per the WTO review, the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre runs a one-stop service center, set up in 2014, that hosts five government service providers.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
As of 2024, per the WTO review, artisanal mining permits are reserved for Malawians, content services are reserved for Malawians, and foreigners may only fish for sport.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
Zones are designated under the Special Economic Zones Act, 2024; no official list or count was found, and the WTO review (2024) reports some under development.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Malawi
- Register the company online with the Companies Registration and Intellectual Property Centre.Companies Registration and Intellectual Property CentreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CRIPC, official business registrar site (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get a taxpayer number from the revenue authority.Malawi Revenue AuthorityFree of charge, as of 2024Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
- Apply to the investment center for an investment certificate, which needs a limited company and a minimum investment pledge of US$50,000.Malawi Investment and Trade CentreUS$200 application fee and US$800 issue fee, as of 2024Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
- Ask the investment center which sector licenses apply, then apply to the ministry or regulator that issues them.Malawi Investment and Trade CentreOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Apply for work and residence permits through the immigration department, which has staff at the one-stop service center.Department of ImmigrationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
- Lease public land through the investment center and the lands ministry, because land can be sold only to Malawian citizens.Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban DevelopmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
- Check the central bank's foreign exchange directives for payments, dividends and export proceeds before you transfer funds.Reserve Bank of MalawiOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Reserve Bank of Malawi, exchange control legislation list (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with CRIPC and MRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
Business and intellectual property registry
CRIPC
Companies Registration and Intellectual Property Centre
Registers companies and businesses online and administers intellectual property rights.
Visit CRIPC (opens in a new tab)Source: CRIPC, official business registrar site (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration authority
Immigration
Department of Immigration
Processes passports, visas and permits, including temporary employee and residence permits.
Visit Immigration (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Immigration, home page and permit list (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Land and housing ministry
Lands Ministry
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development
Allocates public land to the investment center for investors and is automating the land information system.
Visit Lands Ministry (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
MRA
Malawi Revenue Authority
Registers taxpayers, takes customs declarations online and issues certificates of origin for exports to SADC members.
Visit MRA (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 4, 2024
- Meet requirements
Central bank and exchange control
RBM
Reserve Bank of Malawi
Issues foreign exchange rules for exporters, runs the export proceeds reconciliation system and publishes inflation and exchange rate data.
Visit RBM (opens in a new tab)Source: Reserve Bank of Malawi, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Business membership association
MCCCI
Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Represents private companies, offers trade promotion and research, and publishes a yearly business climate survey.
Visit MCCCI (opens in a new tab)Source: MCCCI, services page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
AGOA status
Malawi is on the June 2026 AGOA list, and a law signed on September 2, 2026 extends the program to December 31, 2028.
What to do: Confirm the eligibility list and any other United States tariffs on your goods before you price.
Sources: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility review notice, 30 June 2026 (opens in a new tab); United States Congress, H.R. 6500 bill status, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
As of 2024, per the WTO review, artisanal mining permits and content services are reserved for Malawians, and foreigners may only fish for sport.
What to do: Check with the investment center whether your sector is reserved before you commit capital.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Land ownership
As of 2024, per the WTO review, a 2022 amendment allows land to be sold only to Malawian citizens, so foreign investors lease land.
What to do: Build your project around a lease, and confirm terms with the investment center.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Currency and settlement
The WTO review says foreign exchange shortages are a major constraint, with reserves covering 0.8 months of imports at the end of 2023.
What to do: Confirm how you will pay for imports and move dividends before you invest.
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi summary, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more
Special economic zones
As of mid-2024, per the WTO review, the 2024 zones act was law but implementing regulations were still being developed.
What to do: Ask the investment center which zones accept applications and which incentives apply.
Sources: WTO Trade Policy Review, Malawi, 2024 (opens in a new tab); National Planning Commission, special economic zones note, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Malawi with other countriesSet Malawi beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Malawi project.
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Promote:Malawi is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.