Group to lobby for economic independence
The Association of Experts in Socio-economic Development, a newly-formed economic think-tank, has said it is geared at drilling Malawians to become economically empowered and help in transforming the nation from a importing and consuming to a producing and exporting one.
The association’s co-founders, Maurice Gondwe and Ted Mhango told Business News last week that association, which comprises a team of experts, wants to promote production and marketing of Malawian goods and services to complement the functions and resources of bodies that to enhance efficiency.
“Our association realises that it has a crucial role to play in economic growth and development of this country, which is to facilitate the production and entrepreneurship development business activities,” said Gondwe.
He said through facilitation, the association will provide direction and relevant information to actual and potential traders on opportunities available as well as necessary procedures to be followed to successfully participate in the country’s economic activities.
“Records indicate that the agricultural sector is the source of exports in Malawi with tobacco, tea and coffee collectively contributing about 70 percent of the total export earnings.
“It is against this background that we would like to empower Malawians to make use of the opportunities by equipping them with the appropriate techniques,” he said.
He said the association has, for a start, organised a two-day training to fill the information gap and skill deficiency that is prevalent in many exporters’ organisations and individuals, that hinders fexporting.
“We believe that growth in the export sector will entail raising the locals into medium and large-scale entrepreneurs and establishing strong linkages across the different hierarchies of the private sector; hence, this training,” he said.
According to Gondwe, the training targets all potential and actual exporters in Malawi irrespective of size and experience in international trade.
“This training will, to some extent, be a refresher course. The association hopes to make this programme an eye opener to many exporters and individuals,” he said, adding that institutions that work with farmers and exporters are encouraged to attend the training.
