The Japanese car exporter, Be Forward, has raised concerns about the challenging business environment in Malawi, attributing it to the limited access to foreign exchange. This situation has made it difficult for the company to expand its operations in the country. Hironori Yamakawa, the president of Be Forward, highlighted that aside from the poor road infrastructure, the unavailability of forex has led to a decrease in vehicle purchases by Malawians.
Yamakawa expressed these concerns during a meeting with Kondwani Nankhumwa, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, held in Tokyo, Japan. He emphasized the importance of addressing the forex scarcity issue, as it directly impacts the importation of second-hand vehicles from Japan and hinders business growth in the automotive sector.
Nankhumwa, while acknowledging Be Forward’s investments in Africa and Malawi, pledged to advocate for increased government funding towards infrastructure development, particularly the construction of a robust road network throughout the country. Such improvements in infrastructure are crucial for facilitating smoother transportation and trade, stimulating economic growth, and addressing the challenges faced by the automotive industry.
The issue of draining forex reserves due to the influx of cheap second-hand car imports from Japan highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to balancing the demand for vehicles with the availability of foreign exchange. Finding sustainable solutions to this challenge will be vital for the growth and stability of Malawi’s economy.
