Japan is exploring stronger digital and innovation ties with Malawi following discussions between officials from the two countries.
Naito Yasushi, ambassador of Japan to Malawi, met Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority director general Dr Mayamiko Nkoloma and a Japanese team led by Yusuke Yoshikawa of Karaba NGO, which runs the Social Innovators Forum in Africa (SIFA).
The discussions focused on linking youth innovation initiatives in the two countries, including the Malawi National ICT Innovation Awards and programmes supported by Japan in Malawi.
Yasushi proposed linking Japanese innovators with the gold and silver winners of Malawi’s annual National ICT Innovation Awards, creating opportunities for collaboration between young innovators in the two countries.
The inaugural National ICT Innovation Awards attracted 226 entries, with 20 innovators shortlisted based on innovation, impact, scalability and technical expertise.
The top two innovators were selected to showcase their solutions at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.
ITWeb Africa previously reported that the awards recognised innovations in areas including healthcare, education and finance.
The discussions also involved the SIFA, a platform that brings together young entrepreneurs, policymakers and other stakeholders around social innovation.
The 2026 edition of SIFA was held in Lilongwe. Japan’s embassy has described SIFA as part of its support for ICT and digitalisation in Malawi.
“These two events can be linked to create a sort of synergy,” Yasushi said.
Yoshikawa said SIFA had expanded since its launch, from an initiative involving one university to one involving several universities, companies, non-governmental organisations and international organisations.
Japan has broader cooperation with Malawi in areas including education, skills development and infrastructure. Yasushi has also highlighted opportunities to strengthen trade, investment and social-impact business ties between the two countries.
The latest discussions build on Japan’s engagement with Malawi’s digital and innovation ecosystem, including the National ICT Innovation Awards.
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