Malawi Signs New Passport Deal

The Malawian government has formalised a 5-year contract valued at roughly $30 million with Madras Security Printers (MSP) Private Limited, an Indian firm specialising in security printing and eGovernment solutions. This agreement aims to enhance the nation's passport issuance system by addressing previous inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities.

Amid concerns regarding the transparency of the procurement process, the government maintains that the process involved a restricted tender, with 25 companies initially shortlisted. From these, 6 bidders—comprising 4 local and 2 international firms—progressed to the final evaluation stage. MSP emerged as the preferred bidder, offering a daily production capacity exceeding 2,000 passports, effectively doubling the current output. This increase is anticipated to significantly reduce both the existing backlog and the waiting time for passport applicants.