The Malawian government – which imports 80% of its goods from South Africa – has launched the Buy Malawi Strategy (BMS) in a bid to promote locally produced goods and services.
Director administration and finance in the ministry of trade and industry, Joseph Mkandawire, said it was a pity that most products consumed in Malawi were manufactured in South Africa and sold in South African chain stores when the same could be manufactured and processed in Malawi.
According to an AllAfrica.com news report, Mandawire has established local sourcing partnership training for small and medium enterprises which is currently under way in Blantyre.
The training is aimed at training entrepreneurs in business processes so as to create more jobs as well as promote local products for international markets in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) trade region
According to Mkandawire, Malawi is capable of producing the products sold in the international chain stores but that Malawians need to change their mindset so that they have confidence in their own products.
