Malawi to review 40 trade laws
In an interview on Saturday Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Nebert Nyirenda said some of the laws under review are those to do with licensing, standards and company incorporation.
“We are continuously monitoring the business environment. Currently, we are reviewing almost 40 acts in the business industry.
“The review meant to ensure that both local and international businesses do their businesses on a level ground while embedding the ease of doing business and reducing cost of running business,” he said.
Nyirenda was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of Kachere Soft Tissues, a locally made brand of toilet tissues by a Malawian company, KS Industries.
He said government is aware that cost of business in the country was high, especially for small and medium businesses.
“The review is meant to end such challenges. We are aware that small businesses are critical in job and wealth creation as well as in social economic development of the country,” he added.
He proposed that businesses should be focussed while his ministry has to work with other ministries to overcome the challenges.
The review process is midway and some laws are already in Parliament, according to him.
KS Industries is a subsidiary of SK Group of Companies with interests in security, agricultural produce marketing and information technology.
The company’s managing director Smolet Kachere described the launch of Kachere Soft Tissues as a “fruit of a long journey”.
He said they have invested about K68 million in the company.
The project was implemented in two phases, starting with the construction of the factory and then installation of the production machinery.
“Kachere Soft Tissue is unique with amazing softness like a whiff of perfume. It is from this softness that the company derived its motto ‘silk soft touch’,” he said.
He added: “Quality is a key component in the company’s manufacturing process. The company is committed to supplying the paper at the lowest price to help Malawians at all levels go the environmental friendly way. Low price does not mean the tissue is of poor quality.”
Kachere said the company has so far employed 25 people and the number is likely to treble once the company goes into kitchen paper towels and serviettes production.
