The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) has reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising private sector capital and expertise to support the delivery of sustainable infrastructure in Malawi following a high-level Infrastructure Financing and Partnership Forum held at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

Held under the theme “Mobilising Private Capital for Sustainable Infrastructure Development,” the forum brought together Government ministries and agencies, local and international investors, commercial banks, pension funds, development finance institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to financing Malawi’s infrastructure priorities.

The forum provided a platform for the Commission and various contracting authorities to showcase a pipeline of infrastructure projects and engage potential financiers on opportunities for private sector participation.

Speaking during the forum, PPPC Chief Executive Officer Arthur Nanthuru said Malawi has a significant pipeline of investment opportunities across sectors including energy, transport, mining, education and agriculture. Nanthuru assumed office as PPPC Chief Executive Officer in 2026. 

He said the Commission’s focus is to facilitate engagement between public institutions with infrastructure requirements and private financiers and investors with the capital, technical expertise and experience needed to support project development and implementation.

Among the major projects presented during the forum were proposed investments in the energy sector, including the Fufu Hydropower Project, estimated at US$702 million, and the Kholombidzo Hydropower Project, estimated at US$500 million. The project pipeline also included the proposed Chilumba–Mbeya Railway, estimated at US$968 million, as well as investment opportunities in mining and public university infrastructure. 

The forum highlighted the importance of preparing commercially viable and bankable projects capable of attracting long-term private investment while safeguarding the public interest.

Guest of Honour and Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mathyola Mwanamvekha called for stronger collaboration among Government, the private sector, development partners and communities in addressing Malawi’s infrastructure financing requirements.

He said infrastructure development remains critical to the achievement of Malawi 2063 and the country’s First 10-Year Implementation Plan, while acknowledging that limited fiscal space and high financing costs constrain Government’s ability to meet all infrastructure needs through public resources alone. 

The Minister identified power generation, roads, railways, industrial parks, export processing zones, airports and inland water transport among areas requiring greater investment. He further highlighted Public-Private Partnerships, blended finance, infrastructure bonds and green financing as some of the mechanisms that can help mobilise additional resources for development. 

Discussions at the forum also focused on project preparation, risk allocation, governance, financing structures and the conditions required to give investors confidence to commit long-term capital.

Through its mandate, PPPC supports Government ministries, departments and agencies in identifying projects suitable for PPP delivery, conducting feasibility assessments, structuring transactions and facilitating transparent procurement of private sector partners. The Commission also works with the Ministry of Finance in assessing affordability, value for money, feasibility and contingent liabilities associated with PPP projects.

The Infrastructure Financing and Partnership Forum therefore provided an important bridge between project owners and the financing community, giving stakeholders an opportunity to move beyond discussions on infrastructure gaps towards concrete investment partnerships.

The Commission is expected to continue engagements with investors, financial institutions, development partners and contracting authorities following the forum, with a focus on advancing promising projects through the various stages of preparation, financing and procurement.

PPPC remains committed to facilitating partnerships that can unlock private capital, improve infrastructure delivery and expand access to quality public services for the people of Malawi.

The Commission believes that sustainable infrastructure development will require coordinated action between the public and private sectors, supported by well-prepared projects, appropriate risk-sharing mechanisms and a predictable investment environment.

Through initiatives such as the Infrastructure Financing and Partnership Forum, PPPC will continue creating platforms that connect Malawi’s development priorities with the capital and expertise required to transform them into viable, sustainable projects.