Exports to South Africa to resume

Malawi will resume garment exports to South Africa before the end of this year under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade protocol with preferential terms. Media reports on Wednesday quoted Textile and Garments Industry Association of Malawi chairman Kantilal Desai as saying South Africa had agreed to give Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique a duty-free export quota of textiles and garments under the SADC trade protocol. Malawi had since the early 90s enjoyed duty-free access to the giant South African market under a bilateral trade agreement which increased its textile exports to South Africa from less than US $5 million in 1994 to US $70 million in 1998.