President Chakwera Inaugurates 33rd Malawi International Trade Fair, Emphasizes Productivity, Quality Assurance

BLANTYRE, Malawi- President Lazarus Chakwera inaugurated the 33rd Malawi International Trade Fair on Wednesday at the Chichiri exhibition grounds in Blantyre, writes Happy Valirani.

The ten-day event, scheduled from May 17th to May 26th, 2023, aims to foster trade opportunities and promote Malawi's industrialization efforts under the theme "Rebalancing Malawi's Trade through Industrialization."

During the joint commissioning of the trade fair and the newly built Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) laboratory and office complex, President Chakwera emphasized the government's commitment to increasing productivity through commercialization, industrialization, and privatization.

He stressed the significance of productivity in achieving job creation, wealth generation, and food security for the nation.

"In pursuing productivity, we must focus on rebuilding what we lost during the COVID-19 pandemic," said President Chakwera.

"Maintaining our results and rebuilding lost productivity requires the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) to play a crucial role."

President Chakwera praised the new MBS facility, consisting of state-of-the-art laboratories and offices, as a means to produce high-quality certified goods that can compete in the international market.

He urged the MBS to expedite the certification process for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ensuring quick access to certificates and facilitating their participation in global trade.

Additionally, the president advised local entrepreneurs to be proactive and export-oriented.

Expressing concern over uncertified scales used by some vendors, President Chakwera highlighted the Ministry of Trade and Industry's collaboration with the MBS to address the issue effectively.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Trade and Industry Simplex Chithyola Banda commended the newly constructed MBS laboratory for its capacity to certify Malawian products using state-of-the-art equipment.

He emphasized that this development would increase the acceptance of Malawian products in both regional and global markets.

"The quality and standards of certified products will now be guaranteed and trusted by people from all walks of life," said Minister Chithyola Banda.

"This will boost confidence in locally produced goods, promote the Buy Malawi campaign, and lead to input substitution."

Minister Chithyola Banda encouraged local manufacturers to utilize the MBS Laboratory for their products to achieve certification and enhance their adherence to quality assurance standards.

He highlighted the ministry's efforts to create an enabling business environment, such as the Malawi Investment Trade Center, which provides streamlined services, and the Malawi Confederation Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), the voice of the private sector.

The event also featured speeches from Lekani Katanduka, President of the Malawi Confederation Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), Devlin Chokazinga, Board Chairperson of the Malawi Bureau of Standards, and Mr. Franquis Denner, Chief Technical Advisor of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

With the opening of the 33rd Malawi International Trade Fair and the inauguration of the new MBS facility, Malawi takes a significant step towards rebalancing trade through industrialization and ensuring the quality of its products for both local and global markets.