National Agrifood Systems Investment Platform Malawi
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Programme for the National Agrifood Systems Investment Symposium 2026.

Programme

A full-day programme bringing together government, investors, businesses, financial institutions and development partners to unlock investment in Malawi's agrifood systems.

05 October 2026 Date
BICC, Lilongwe Venue
Malawi Country
Programme
National Agrifood Systems Investment Symposium 2026 5 October 2026 · BICC, Lilongwe
The Symposium Begins In
00 Days
00 Hours
00 Minutes
00 Seconds
05 October 2026 • 08:00 • BICC, Lilongwe
Session 1

Official Opening Ceremony

08:00 – 11:20
Registration & Networking
08:00 – 09:00

Registration, Networking & Viewing of Exhibitions

Registration, networking and viewing of exhibitions.

Lead: Secretariat (NPC & MoAIWD)
Opening Ceremony
09:00 – 09:30

Official Opening Ceremony

Welcome Remarks by the Director of Ceremonies; Opening Prayer by Dr. Anderson Gondwe, Research Director, MWAPATA Institute; Remarks from the National Planning Commission by Professor Richard M. Mkandawire, Board Chair, National Planning Commission; Remarks from the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry by Mr Ronald Ngwira, President, MCCCI; Remarks by Erica Maganga, Secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development; Official Opening Remarks by Hon. Simoni Itaye, Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism.

Lead: Director of Ceremonies / National Planning Commission / MCCCI / MoAIWD / MoIBTT
Mr. Joab Frank Chakhadza; Dr. Anderson Gondwe; Professor Richard M. Mkandawire; Mr Ronald Ngwira; Erica Maganga; Hon. Simoni Itaye
Keynote Presentation
09:30 – 10:00

Key Symposium Presentation: Mega Farms Legacy Investment Program

Key symposium presentation on the Mega Farms Legacy Investment Program.

Lead: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development
Hon. Roza Fatch Mbilizi M.P., Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development
Presentation
10:00 – 10:20

Incentives for Agri-Food System Investments in Malawi

Presentation on incentives available for agri-food system investments in Malawi.

Lead: Malawi Investment and Trade Centre
Mr. Bisa Namarika, Director General, Malawi Investment and Trade Centre
Plenary
10:20 – 10:50

Plenary

Plenary session facilitated by the Director of Ceremonies.

Lead: Director of Ceremonies
10:50 – 11:20
Group Photo and Coffee Break

Group photo and coffee break.

Session 2

Financial Opportunities Available in the Agriculture Sector

11:20 – 15:00
Investor Success Story
11:20 – 11:35

Investor Success Story: From Opportunity to Impact – A Journey of Investing in Malawi's Agri-food Sector

Investor success story presentations featuring Ethanolic Company Limited (EthCo), Salima Sugar Company Limited and ILLOVO Sugar Malawi Plc.

Lead: Director of Ceremonies
Ethanolic Company Limited (EthCo); Salima Sugar Company Limited; ILLOVO Sugar Malawi Plc; TBC
Panel Discussion
11:35 – 12:10

Panel Discussion: Financing Opportunities for Agri-food Investments

Panel discussion on financing opportunities for agri-food investments.

Lead: Director of Ceremonies
NBS Bank Plc; FDH Bank Plc; Standard Bank Plc; National Bank of Malawi Plc; Centenary Bank; Head of the Donor Community of Agriculture and Food Security (DCAFS)
Closing Remarks
12:10 – 12:25

High-Level Closing Speech

High-level closing remarks by the President of MCCCI and the Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism.

Lead: Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry / Ministry of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism
Mr Ronald Ngwira, President, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Hon. Simoni Itaye, Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism
Prayer
12:25 – 12:30

Closing Prayer

Closing prayer.

Lead: MWAPATA Institute
Dr Anderson Gondwe, Research Director, MWAPATA Institute
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch

Lunch.

13:30 – 15:00
Deal Making

Free-flow Engagement (Deal Making Conversations)

Free-flow engagement and deal making conversations involving investors, government, development partners, businesses and other stakeholders.

Lead: Investors, Government, Development Partners, Businesses, etc.
Documentation

Rapporteur Teams

Session 1

Official Opening Ceremony

  • Thembi Mablekisi — MoIBTT
  • Loyce Chiwaula — CISANET
  • Chisomo Dambula — GIZ
  • Frank Kamanga — NPC
  • Cassim Maulidi — MoAIWD
  • Martha Malikebu — GIZ
Team Leader: Frank Kamanga
Session 2

Financial Opportunities Available in the Agriculture Sector

  • Tapiwa Munthali — CARE Malawi
  • Elizabeth Goneka — MoAIWD
  • Priscilla Mwamkili — MITC
  • Atupele Sembereka — NPC
  • Uchizi Chirambo
  • Tayani Banda — NPC
  • Nyengo Msakambewa
Team Leaders: Elizabeth Goneka / Uchizi Chirambo
National Agrifood Systems Investment Platform

Join the investment conversation.

Join the symposium on 05 October 2026 at BICC, Lilongwe.

Register for the Symposium