Minister calls for local resource utilisation
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Francis Kasaila has urged construction firms in the country to use local resources in their projects.
Speaking when he toured the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) laboratory complex currently under construction in Blantyre, the Minister said he was pleased to note that the contractor, Terrastone Limited, is using local labour and building materials.
The minister said cement made in Malawi is of high quality and he wondered why some contractors spend forex to import cement.
He expressed delight with the quality of work being done by the contractor.
Terrastone Limited chairperson and managing director Armenio Marques Da Costa said he was glad that the minister appreciated their effort in using local labour and materials.
He said construction will be completed by June this year.
When completed, the complex is expected to ease standards certification challenges which saw some products being tested abroad. The construction of the complex, the third of its kind in the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) bloc after Botswana and South Africa is being funded by Malawi Government to the tune of K12.4 billion. The European Union (EU) will provide the equipment.
