Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) is developing an industrial park in Chigumula, Blantyre District to promote and facilitate trade and investment through creation of industrial Special Economic Zones in support of the Malawi Vision 2063 and the National Export Strategy. Development of the Chigumula Industrial Park will see increase the earnings and volume of value-added products from agro-processing products. To ensure that development of the industrial park is undertaken in an environmentally and socially acceptable manner, MITC has engaged Matex International Ltd to conduct an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the industrial park and Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP) for access road.

The industrial park lies on 22.7 hectare piece of land south east of Blantyre in Chigumula. The industrial park intends to allocate 61 plots to interested investors in small and medium enterprises for value-addition operations. The project will primarily include construction of factory shells for value-addition operations with higher affinity for export trade and industrial linkages. Development of the industrial park will also include construction of access roads and drainage network, reticulation of water and electricity, liquid waste oxidation ponds and a perimeter fence.

Specific services provided by Matex International Ltd under this assignment include: Biophysical and socioeconomic assessments, stakeholder consultations, impact identification, assessment and evaluation, developing environmental and social management plan, valuation and assessment of assets affected, development of grievance redress mechanisms and livelihood restoration plan.