World Bank Grants & Export Push: Parliament approved US$130m (about K229bn) in IDA funding—US$80m for governance and service delivery, and US$50m for export value chains—aimed at easing Malawi’s forex squeeze by backing firms, improving export readiness, and tightening how export restrictions are handled. Forex & Bureaucracy Pressure: Shadow Finance MP Peter Dimba backed the grants but warned “money alone won’t solve” the forex crisis, calling for a One-Stop Export Centre to cut delays that choke exporters. Power Sector Upgrade: ESCOM commissioned a 20MW/40MWh utility-scale battery energy storage system in Lilongwe to stabilise the grid and reduce load-shedding impacts, with plans for more battery projects. Road & Trade Logistics: Work began on the major Lilongwe–Blantyre M1 Road rehabilitation, while Mozambique’s Machipanda one-stop border post (budgeted $37.2m) targets faster customs and fewer truck queues—good news for regional freight flows. Agriculture & Jobs: Government launched the K7.3bn Chimbiya Rural Growth Centre to support Irish potato farmers with markets and storage, and Malawi is weighing reopening Kabwafu tobacco auction floors for the 2026/27 season. Governance Deliverables: Industry Minister Simoni Itaye urged MBS and SMEDCO to move beyond symbolic agreements and deliver measurable results through quarterly monitoring. Fuel Cost Reality: Malawi remains among Africa’s most expensive diesel markets, keeping transport and production costs high across industry and farming.