Business
Malawi Govt. embarks on reforms to support women entrepreneurs
December 04, 2020 / Wahard Betha
In an attempt to mitigate challenges being faced by women entrepreneurs in the country, the Malawi Government has embarked on institutionalization of a number of business and industrial reforms.
Speaking during the first Annual COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Trade Fair in Lilongwe, Minister of Trade Sosten Gwengwe said the reforms have been instituted in a bid to change the country’s trade composition and promote industrialization realizing the major role women has in the business sector.
He said: “The Government of Malawi is implementing the National Industrial Policy (NIP) and National Trade Policy (2016 policies).
“The NIP has the objective to maximize domestic value addition and structural transformation which is a theme adopted at the continental level, the Tripartite and regional levels.
“Particularly, in setting a new path for the structure of the economy from dominance by agriculture and towards a larger share of manufacturing in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the NIP adopted the clusters that were identified in the country’s National Export Strategy and adds clusters that Malawi has capacity in and vital for import substitution.”
He said the Government has instituted National Trade Policy to address constraints on the supply side in order to grow the economy at national level.
Gwengwe added that the policy will also build the country’s business sector to respond to improved market access and build a competitive economy.
The Ministry of Trade is implementing a number projects with assistance from various development partners such as the European Union, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), among others.
The projects include the Enhanced Integrated Framework, Export promotions, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Business Incubator, Malawi Enterprise Productivity Enhancement Project, Trade Related Facility, among others.
He stressed that the projects will provide capacity and technical support programmes to businesses including Small and Medium Enterprises so that stakeholders can improve their knowledge and skills in value addition activities as well as build linkages with both domestic and international markets.
Gwengwe urged local entrepreneurs to be participating in the regional trade fairs and exhibitions saying such creates a platform to integrate into regional value chains and overcome some supply side constraints.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture Robin Lowe said there is need to resuscitate agribusiness development in the country as it has potential to spur socio-economic development and growth.
“However, this is possible if all players in the agriculture sector, including financial institutions and farming communities get committed towards investing and improving their performance in agribusiness and pulling in the same direction, “ he said, “This requires collaboration and coordination of various interventions including banking services that can benefit agribusiness and agriculture sector growth in Malawi.”
Lowe said the country requires employment of some strategies for it to restore its glory in agribusiness.
The strategies include: promoting agribusiness financing; promoting savings and investment culture by having rural based campaigns and awareness meetings; facilitating innovative financing mechanisms and arrangements for farmers; facilitating provision of risk-reducing initiatives in the agriculture sector including crop insurance, warehouse receipt system and other initiatives and; promoting electronic banking initiatives.
He also said the country needs to institute promotion and financing anchor farm model initiatives which heavily relies on financing.
Lowe said farmers and all players in the agriculture sector lacks support from the banks for them to excel in the industry.
He said the country also needs to invest in developing skills of managing various processes across value chains and value chain development; and promote development of the market infrastructure.
The aagricultural sector employs 85% of the population, contributing 65% of export earnings and 28% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
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The establishment of a stable and self-sustaining ecosystem, but not necessarily the one that existed before mining began. In many cases, complete restoration may be impossible, but successful remediation, reclamation, and rehabilitation can result in the timely establishment of a functional ecosystem.
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Remediation:
The cleanup of the contaminated area to safe levels by removing or isolating contaminants. At mine sites, remediation often consists of isolating contaminated material in pre-existing tailings storage facilities, capping tailings and waste rock stockpiles with clean topsoil, and collecting and treating any contaminated mine water if necessary.
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