The Malawi government says it will embark on programmes to support local companies to ensure that they produce quality and competitively priced products and services as part of the Buy Malawi Strategy.
Minister of Industry and Trade, Joseph Mwanamvekha, said in an interview that the ministry has outlined a plan to ensure that the strategy is a success through, among other things, deliberate support of local companies.
He said government wants improvements in tendering procedures to make them more accessible and favourable to local suppliers.
“The success of [Buy Malawi] strategy is premised on the underlying assumption that Malawian companies will produce goods and services with sufficient quality and appeal to buyers,” he said.
Mwanamvekha also said the Buy Malawi strategy is meant to be a long term plan unlike the Buy Malawi campaign that was launched in 2009.
He explained that there is a difference between a strategy and a campaign.
“A campaign has a lifespan, say one year and it is short-lived whereas a strategy is a medium to long term plan,” said Mwanamvekha.
“We want the Buy Malawi Strategy to help change mindsets and be part of our inherent culture to always value our own locally manufactured goods and services,” he said.
He said to achieve that, the ministry will employ a robust communication strategy in order to project a positive national image for the country and address the negative mind set and stigma about Malawian products.
He said the strategy will also address issues of work ethics in order to increase productivity and was confident that if successfully implemented, the Buy Malawi Strategy will reap enormous economic and social benefits for Malawi.
“There will be more job creation; increases in household incomes from employment and sales; higher national revenues and GDP growth,” said Mwanamvekha.
“There is also likely to be unprecedented growth in prioritised sectors; more government spending on critical social services; and improved chances of achieving the country’s long term goals of wealth creation and better livelihood,” he said.
The Buy Malawi Strategy, said Mwanamvekha, will contribute to reduction of poverty and transform the lives of the people of Malawi.
The strategy has been support with financial and technical assistance from the Malawi government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the private sector.
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