The Buy Malawi Strategy Secretariat has from July to October 2018 conferred certificates to 28 members with over 66 companies still in the process of registering as members, after reaching out to over 200 Companies.
This is a huge reap since the BMS Champion, President Peter Mutharika, launched the initiative on March 18, 2016.
“Private Sector’s active participation in the Buy Malawi Strategy is key to the sustainability of the Strategy as they are a major stakeholder.”
“This Strategy begins with them producing and delivering to markets in time but also quality products and services to the consumers. Minus private sector, there is no fruition of the Buy Malawi Strategy,” Says Wiskes Nkombezi, Director of SMEs & Registrar of Cooperatives in the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Tourism.
One of the first members, Crown Group of Companies concurs saying that the success of the Buy Malawi Strategy depends on full participation of the private sector, not to only maximize profits by taking advantage of the local market, but also to “Build Malawi”.
During a recent live debate on MBC Television, Director Parvinder Singh emphasised that Building Malawi should be considered by every manufacturer in Malawi.
“Buy Malawi Strategy for us is an opportunity to contribute more to Malawi. Being a Buy Malawi, Build Malawi member in the Pharmaceutical chapter has boosted our business as we have been given a ready market”
“We have ensured that Malawians access quality medicines which the Government of Malawi has given us an opportunity to supply to Malawians through the Central Medical Stores Trust,” he said.
As other members are still in the process of registering, Nyaluwanga Farms and Northern Honey Processors envisage benefiting from the Buy Malawi Strategy membership as using the Gazetted logo will authenticate their products’ quality and as Malawian.
“I produce honey which is organic as well as fresh. I am of the view that Malawians need to consume fresh foods which are processed locally.”
“Malawians should know that it’s easier to track a Malawian company if the product affects them in anyway unlike buying from a company they can’t trace. Becoming a Buy Malawi Strategy member is something I worked on and just waiting for approval,” says Lestina Nhlema, Managing Director of Northern Honey Processors.
The Buy Malawi Strategy is a Government initiative that aims at moving Malawi from a predominantly importing to an exporting economy which also answers directly to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all and 9 Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.