A delegation of Malawian business leaders, returning from a high-level economic forum in Morocco, has urged the government to accelerate essential fertilizer trials in collaboration with OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the Moroccan OCP Group, a global pioneer of phosphate production, according to local media. These tests aim to evaluate the suitability of OCP fertilizers to the specificities of Malawian soils, a prerequisite for the group’s establishment in the country.
Made up of representatives of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (Nasme) and government officials, the delegation participated in the Morocco-Malawi Economic Promotion Week, held in December 2024. Although this visit made it possible to open promising prospects for trade and investment, the slow pace of fertilizer testing has been identified as a major obstacle.
“OCP Africa shows keen interest in investing in Malawi, but the delay in publishing trial results is hampering their progress”lamented William Mwale, executive director of NASME. “These tests are crucial to guarantee the effectiveness and relevance of OCP fertilizers for our agricultural sector.” OCP Africa, a subsidiary of the Moroccan giant OCP Group, has already demonstrated its commitment to Africa by installing a urea production plant in Zambia, highlighting sustainable solutions adapted to local needs.
A promising but weakened partnership
In a largely agricultural economy like that of Malawi, access to high-quality and affordable fertilizers represents an essential lever for improving agricultural productivity and strengthening food security. Aware of the strategic importance of this partnership, the Malawian government plans to formalize it through a bilateral agreement with Morocco. This bilateral agreement would seek to guarantee a stable and reliable supply of fertilizer for the Malawian market, thus helping to resolve the recurring difficulties faced by farmers in accessing essential inputs.
However, the accumulated delays in carrying out the tests risk compromising these aims. If the Ministry of Agriculture, according to the same sources, has not yet taken a public position on the issue, the Malawian embassy in Morocco “was optimistic about the potential success of the project with OCP.”
The embassy underlined the importance of business meetings between the two countries and highlighted opportunities for enhanced trade. The successful implementation of this partnership “could not only boost agricultural productivity in Malawi but also build economic relations between the two nations, paving the way for mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities”a-t-on souligné.
