#BuyMalawian2017 Campaign launched

We're excited to launch the #BuyMalawian2017 campaign; to encourage Scots to buy Malawian products in celebration of the birthday of David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer who began the special relationship between the two nations more than 150 years ago.

Through his travels, Dr Livingstone fought against the slave trade and looked to open new trade routes into Africa to support its economic development.

150+ years later, we're continuing this same mission; hoping to cement Livingstone’s birthday – 19^th March – as an annual “buy Malawian” day, to promote Malawian produce and support sustainable economic development.

To launch the campaign, we're giving Scots a chance to WIN A DREAM HOLIDAY TO MALAWI which has been generously donated by tourism operators in Malawi.

16 different Malawian products are included within the campaign, including coffee, rice, nuts, gin and even Malawian wine.

The University of Edinburgh estimates that there are over 94,000 Scots involved in civic links with Malawi, and that these people-to-people links benefit 4 million Malawians and 300,000 Scots annually. Separate research suggests 46% of Scots can name a friend or family member with a connection to Malawi, making this one of the world’s strongest north-south civic links.

Malawi has a population of around 17 million people. 80% are farmers and, with roughly half the population living on less than £1 a day, it remains one of the poorest countries in the world.

By building markets for Malawian exports, we’re able to help support sustainable livelihoods as Malawi works its way out of poverty, and we can help Malawi reduce its dependence on harmful tobacco production.

DON'T FORGET: Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 27th February to the 12th March!

We're working in partnership with the Scottish Fair Trade Forum to promote Fairtrade Malawian products.