APM opens Abdul Majid Motor City

Malawi President Peter Mutharika said he was impressed with Abdul Majid Motor City, as the imposing structure has transformed the ambiance of Ginnery Corner and the city of Blantyre.

He was speaking at the opening of HTD’s new premises housing the headquarters and car showroom at Ginnery Corner in the commercial capital Blantyre.

“It is evident that the investment in the showroom will go a long way towards ensuring high customer satisfaction,” said Mutharika.

The president said the transport sector plays an important role in economic developing of the country.

Modecai Msisha, one of HTD Limited directors, said the company decided to invite the president to officially open the premises because he represents hope and desire for a change for the country.

HTD Limited is a private local Limited Liability Company incorporated in Malawi in 1993 and started constructing the new premises in 2004.

Mutharika applauded HTD Limited for its investments in the country.

“I applaud HTD Limited for its investments in the country and let me urge you all that time has come for Malawi to increase domestic income generating capacities and savings that can enable our country to move decisively towards greater dependence on domestic resources for growth and development.

“Let us together create Malawi as a “safe haven” for investors”, said Mutharika.

Mutharika expressed confidence that investments such as the Abdul Majid Motor City can help to move the country forward.

“This investment is worth commending. It is worth celebrating. It moves trade in services a mile further and boosts the motor industry in the country. On this note, let me remind our local companies, including the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that markets are becoming more competitive. It, therefore, requires production of high quality products and services to survive.

“I, therefore, would like to encourage you to strive for excellence by producing and offering high quality products and services at all levels in order for you to be competitive on these markets. Let us create new markets by interacting with both the foreign as well as local investors”, said Mutharika.

He, however urged Malawians and business community at large to invest in new infrastructure for their businesses.

Read Mutharika’s Full Speech below:

REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. PETER MUTHARIKA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE ABDUL MAJID MOTOR CITY

BLANTYRE

13TH NOVEMBER, 2014

· Your Excellency the First Lady Madam Gertrude Mutharika

· The Minister of Industry and Trade Hon. Joseph Mwanamvekha M.P.

· Cabinet Ministers ad Deputy Ministers Here Present

· The Chief Secretary to the Government Mr. George Mkondiwa, Principal Secretaries and Other Senior Civil Servants Here Present

· Mr. Majid Aboobaker – Chairman, HTD Group of Companies

· Chief Executive Officer of HTD Mr. Harris Sidik and Your Management Team

· Mr. Chris Mienie – Finance Director for Iveco South Africa

· Mr. Alex Chung – President, Kia Motors Regional Headquarters for Middle East and Africa

· Mr. Newton Kambala, President of the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) and the Rest of the Business Captains

· Your Excellency the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and all Members of the Diplomatic Corps Here Present

· All Members of Parliament Here Present

· Mr. Eckleni Kudontoni, Secretary General of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

· Representatives of Political Parties

· The Mayor of the City of Blantyre, Councillor Noel Chalamanda

· Distinguished Members of the Press

· Distinguished Guests

· Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am delighted to be here this morning to officially open the Abdul Majid Motor City. I was extremely impressed with the magnificent new showroom during the tour. It is evident that the investment in the showroom will go a long way towards ensuring high customer satisfaction. Congratulations HTD for this imposing structure which has changed the face of Ginnery Corner and most importantly the city of Blantyre.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the transport sector in which HTD operates is very important for the development of this country. The role of this sector plays in our economy cannot be over-emphasized. Transportation is responsible for the development of civilizations from very old times by meeting travel requirement of people and goods. Economic development involves production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.

It is against this background that my Government will continue to prioritize infrastructure development so that we have an efficient transport system in the country that can facilitate more trade and industrial production so as to achieve faster economic growth of the country.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, the Government of Malawi believes that for investment to be meaningful, it must contribute to both the forward and backward linkages in the supply chain of products and services, involving domestic service providers, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In this regard, let me congratulate HTD for creating many jobs in its showroom alone on top of the workforce it already employs. Government expects new investments, such as this motor city, to create employment, generate additional tax revenues and link with domestic firms to help them in capacity building and technology transfer. The social services we need in this country can only be delivered if we generate enough resources to provide them. And it is only through the work of our hands, through the efforts of businesses, through the brains of entrepreneurs that we can generate such resources.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

My Government recognizes that a sound policy framework enables better economic management. It will, therefore, observe strict fiscal discipline to minimize worst and curb the appetite for domestic borrowing which results in crowding out the private sector from accessing finance at affordable costs of borrowing. We will encourage local participation in economic activities as a way of promoting immediate re-investment into the country, further inducing locally generated economic growth and sure source of tax revenue.

At this point, let me applaud HTD Limited for its investments in the country and let me urge you all that time has come for Malawi to increase domestic income generating capacities and savings that can enable our country to move decisively towards greater dependence on domestic resources for growth and development. Let us together create Malawi as a “safe haven” for investors.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you are well aware that Government will be embarking of massive skills development programme under the Community Colleges Initiative. My Government is doing this so as to improve labour productivity so that the private and public sectors can benefit from higher labour productivity. The private sector can come in to support Government on this drive through various means such as procurement of books, tools, building college infrastructure, teachers’ houses and many more.

This skills development programme will be coupled with reforms in the public service which are already ongoing. The public/civil service is expected to act with efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of national policies, the delivery of public services, and the creation of a conducive environment for private sector investment and wealth creation.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, let me finish by expressing my confidence that through investments such as the Abdul Majid Motor City our country can move forward. This investment is worth commending. It is worth celebrating. It moves trade in services a mile further and boosts the motor industry in the country. On this note, let me remind our local companies, including the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that markets are becoming more competitive. It, therefore, requires production of high quality products and services to survive. I, therefore, would like to encourage you to strive for excellence by producing and offering high quality products and services at all levels in order for you to be competitive on these markets. Let us create new markets by interacting with both the foreign as well as local investors. Let us learn from our competitors in order for us to improve, develop and grow our industrial base. If we want higher productivity in our firms let us invest in training and application of new technologies.

Finally, let me call upon local companies to consider upgrading their infrastructure. We have many obsolete buildings in this city that are a safety hazard. Let us invest in modern buildings that are safer, more energy efficient and secure. We need to move with time and why not, we need to beautify our cities.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It is now my honour to declare the Abdul Majid Motor City officially opened.

I thank you all for your attention and may God bless our Nation.