Malawi Expands Gold Trading Services with Four New Centers

Malawi has opened four new gold trading centers to formalize trade and streamline operations. The centres, located in Karonga, Mzimba at Jenda, Mangochi, and Blantyre, are part of a partnership between the Export Development Fund (EDF) and FDH Bank.

The existing outposts were only in Lilongwe and Liwonde, but this expansion aims to bring gold buying services closer to mining districts. The new centres will be hosted at FDH branches in Karonga, Jenda, and Mangochi, while the Blantyre centre will be located on Reserve Bank of Malawi premises.

According to EDF's acting managing director, Inglis Nyamilandu, this expansion is necessary to reach more traders and increase purchase volumes. FDH Bank's managing director, Noel Mkulichi, framed the partnership as a way for the bank to support the mineral value chain.

The formal gold market was established in 2021 to curb losses of gold and gemstones through informal trading and smuggling to neighboring countries. Since then, EDF has purchased around 1.63 tonnes (1,630,368.68 grams) of gold as of September 2026.