Malawi to commission 37 factories in rural areas
Malawi will by the end of this year commission 37 factories in rural areas as one way of economically empowering people living around the factories.
Speaking during a development rally addressed by Malawi President Joyce Banda at Kapedzela Full Primary School in Kapedzela Village under Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalumbu in Lilongwe, Minister of Trade and Industry, Sosten Gwengwe said the 37 factories will be spread across the country.
“Under your leadership your Excellency, industries are being established in rural areas. At the moment, 37 factories are under construction with the expectation that they will be commissioned end this year,” said Gwengwe.
Gwengwe also said three cotton ginning factories which were under construction in the central, northern and southern regions will soon be commissioned to Agriculture Development Marketing Corporation (Admarc)
“These factories once commissioned, will provide employment to people living in the rural areas. This will reduce dependency on subsistence agriculture and aid the economic transformation of the poor rural masses,” he said.
Speaking at the development rally held after touring Kapedzela village which will be transformed through Mudzi Transformation Trust, the President said it is her desire to see people living in rural areas enjoy the benefits of the economic recovery plan which has started baring fruits.
“Yesterday I was told the country has 2.5 months forex cover for the first time in the history of Malawi, inflation is going down, renting rates are going down and this year’s economic growth is projected at four percent.
“All this means nothing unless it translates into social economic transformation of the rural masses,” said Banda.
She said she is determined to see the country’s economic growth match the living standards of people living in remote areas.
“These figures are recorded at Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM), but it does not make sense to say Malawi is the second fastest growing economy after Qatar when Malawians are sleeping in houses that leak. I am determined to change the situation by fighting poverty,” she said.
