Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 4/11/2019

The Government of Malawi is officially supportive of foreign businesses interested in establishing agency, franchise, joint venture, or licensing relationships.  The government encourages local and foreign investment in all sectors of the economy with moderate restrictions on ownership.  There are no restrictions on the size of investment, the source of funds, or whether products are destined for export or for the domestic market.  However, retail operations in rural areas are not permitted by non-Malawian firms.

The Malawi Investment and Trade Center (MITC) is mandated to promote, attract, encourage, facilitate, and support domestic and foreign investment and trade, and publishes an “Investors Guide,” which may be obtained upon request or by visiting MITC’s website:  www.mitc.mw.  MITC also has a compendium of investment opportunities available on  its website.
MITC’s functions include guiding foreign and domestic companies that wish to establish a local office.  In Malawi, starting a business requires formal registration of the company name, business licensing, residence permitting for any expatriate staff, and registration with tax authorities.  Business licenses are valid for one Malawi financial year (July through June) and must be renewed annually.

After a business is registered and licensed, additional steps may need to be taken depending on the type of business.  For example, if a business includes production or manufacturing activities, the workplace must be registered with the Ministry of Labor and inspected by the Department of Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare.
To expedite business startup, MITC operates a One Stop Service Center that hosts representatives from government agencies in charge of business and tax registration, immigration, and land access.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.