Coffee factory on the cards in Mzuzu
The Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union Limited has unveiled plans to construct a coffee factory in Mzuzu to expand its exports potential and create jobs, an official has said.
The cooperative wants to expand its market in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) trade blocs.
Speaking during the Mzuzu Trade Fair at Mzuzu Stadium upper ground on Friday, the cooperative’s chief executive officer Harrison Kalua said there is a lot of demand for Mzuzu coffee in the Sadc and Comesa regions.
The fair was organised by the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI).
“We are currently exporting on small-scale to the United Kingdom [UK] and Denmark, but we want to penetrate the regional markets,” said Kalua, adding that the factory project will start in January next year.
In his remarks, MCCCI president Karl Chokhotho said the Northern Region has enormous potential for business development.
He said most business opportunities in the region are unexploited unlike in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba.
“It is these opportunities that are lying idle which need to be exploited,” said Chokotho.
He said MCCCI wants to see an increase in the number of entrepreneurs taking advantage of business opportunities in the city.
Chokotho said MCCCI is continuously lobbying for policies and tax incentives to get rid of obstacles to doing business.
However, there was low turnout on the first day of the fair, which Chokhotho attributed to the break since the city last held the event.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Mzuzu City mayor William Mkandawire said the trade fair brought an opportunity to the residents of the city to interact with traders who mostly are operating in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
“We only see most of these items exhibited here on the Internet and in newspapers; hence, this is an opportunity for us,” he said.
The trade fair was held under the theme Stimulating Enterprise Development.
In an interview in September, former Chinese ambassador Lin Songtian said Mzuzu Coffee has a market even in China.
He said the cooperative needs to promote the brand and improve on its packaging. n
