“foreign firms", including locally-established firms whose control is hold by foreign investor, are required to enter into joint-venture agreements with local/Malawian construction for the purpose of carrying out construction activities in Malawi. According to the authorities, as per the Sub-contracting and Joint Ventures by Foreign and Malawian Construction Firms Order 2014 [not available online] and the Practice of Construction Consultancy Services by Foreign Consulting Firms Regulations 2004 [not available online], any foreign firm intending to provide services in the construction industry in Malawi should provide those services though joint venture or sub-contracting agreement with one or more Malawian firms where the Malawian firms shall be responsible for thirty percent (30%) of the works by volume and value in the case of contractors and a minimum of 51% of the services assignment in the case of consultants.
"2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—[…]
“foreign firm” means a firm operating in Malawi but belonging to a person who is not a Malawian national and having fifty-one per cent or more of its capital originating from outside Malawi;
“local firm” means a firm operating in Malawi having fifty-one per cent or more of its capital originating from within Malawi but belonging to a person who is not a Malawian national;
“Malawian firm” means a firm operating in Malawi and having fifty-one per cent or more of its capital belonging to a Malawian national;
[...]
Part VI – Registration
20. Prohibition of carrying on business, etc.
(1) No person shall carry on business in the construction industry in Malawi unless he is registered under this Act.
(2) No person being registered under this Act shall carry on business of a category in respect of which he is not registered.
(3) An employee of any person registered under this Act shall not be deemed to carry on business within the meaning of subsection (1) or (2) by reason only of his performance of his functions as an employee.[...]" (National Construction Industry Act (Chapter 53:05), 1997, as amended)
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"1.2 Important Definitions
The NCI Act defines persons engaged in the construction industry as Contractors, Consultants,Construction Material Suppliers and Manufacturers. [...]
1.2.6 Local firm
Local firms are those owned by non Malawians but with more than 51 percent of their Capital Originating from within Malawi. No person who is not a citizen of Malawi shall be allowed to form a local contracting firm unless the majority (more than 51%) of its shares are owned by citizens of Malawi
1.2.7 Foreign Firm
Foreign Firms are those owned by non Malawians and having over 51 percent of their capital originating from outside Malawi. 
[...]
2 Types of Registration
2.1 Temporary Registration
This is registration of foreign firms who have been awarded a specific project. The firm on temporary registration is only allowed to undertake the works under which they were registered. Prior to commencement of the work the firms must partner with eligible Local/Malawian firms in a JV or Subcontracting arrangement as per requirements in the JV/Sub-Contracting Regulations. If they wish to get involved in other works then they should apply for permanent registration after meeting the requirements for permanent registration. 
2.2 Permanent Registration
This registration applies to all types of firms (i.e. Malawian, Local and Foreign firms) seeking to do business in Malawi and having resident offices in Malawi not being just for a particular project. A firm registered under permanent registration will be subjected to review from time to time (at the discretion of the Board) to ascertain if it still meets the minimum requirements for its class. 
[...]
3.3 Permanent Registration  [...]
3.3.2 Foreign Firms
This is permanent registration for Foreign Firms that are coming to Malawi not for a specific project and do not meet the 51% Malawian shareholding or have completed their specific project after first registration and want to get established in Malawi. 
Applications will be submitted on an appropriate form issued by the NCIC on Payment of Application Fee prescribed in the Schedule. The following minimum conditions shall have to be met.
i. The principal of the firm is not a citizen of Malawi
ii. The firm is incorporated outside Malawi
iii. the firm has in its employment, only those expatriates whose qualifications and skills are not available in Malawi,[...]
No person who is not a citizen of Malawi shall be allowed to form a local contracting firm unless the majority (more than 51%) of its shares are owned by citizens of Malawi [...]"(National Construction Industry Council of Malawi (NCIC) (2015), Registration Procedures, Criteria and Schedules for Contractors, Consultants, Construction Material Manufacturers and Suppliers)

National Construction Industry Act (Chapter 53:05), 1997, as amended
National Construction Industry Council of Malawi (NCIC) (2015), Registration Procedures, Criteria and Schedules for Contractors, Consultants, Construction Material Manufacturers and Suppliers
[<a href="https://malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/1996/19/eng@2014-12-31#part_VI">Act</a>],[<a href="https://ncic.mw/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Registration-Procedures-Criteria-and-Schedules-for-Contractors-Consultants-Construction-Material-Manufactures-and-Suppliers-1.pdf">Guide</a>]