Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute’s (ALLPI) Expert Team, composed of Prof. Mekonnen Hailemariam, Institutional Capacity Development and Consultancy Expert and Mrs Birikinesh Gonfa, Investment, Trade and Marketing Expert, was on mission to Malawi from April 23 to 29, 2018. The main objectives of the mission were to develop a Business Plan for the leather Satellite Design Studio through participatory workshop and also to discuss with the Ministry of industry, Trade and Tourism officials on areas of collaboration as part of the implementation of phase II of the “Malawi Enterprise Productivity Enhancement (MEPE)” project under the COMESA RISM financial support.
On 24 April 2018, the Expert Team paid a courtesy call on Dr. Ken Ndala, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Mr Clement Phangaphanga, Deputy Director for Industry, and Mr. Mayeso Msokera, Industrial Development Officer, Department of Industry, both from the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Tourism attended the meeting. The Expert team conveyed the greetings and appreciations of the Executive Director of ALLPI, Prof. Mwinyihija to Dr. Ndala for all the support and continued collaboration in the implementation of ALLPI activities at regional (COMESA) as well as country (Malawi) levels. Dr. Ndala was also briefed on the planned activities of the Expert Team in Lilongwe and Blantyre.
ALLPI- MEPE (Malawi Enterprise Productivity Enhancement) collaboration meeting, to discuss on the implementation of leather and leather products activities under MEPE project was held in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism Gemini conference room. The meeting was attended by 14 officials representing different institutions (Ministry, SMEDI, MEPE, etc..). During the discussion briefings were made on policy direction and implementation of leather value chain strategy, MEPE project and ALLPI Expert Team planned activities.
The Expert Team also met and discussed with SME owners and visited their respective production units situated in Lilongwe and Blantyre Towns. The Team also visited the Leather Satellite Design Studio and held brief discussion with different representatives (12 in number) of institutions and organizations (Ministry, Leather Association, SMEDI), on a number of issues with respect to the operationalization of the center (satellite Design Studio).
The visits were culminated by a one-day participatory workshop for the Satellite Design Studio business plan development that was held at Hotel Victoria in Blantyre on April 26, 2018. A total of 22 participants including the CEO of SMEDI, Leather Association Chair and Vice Chair persons, SMEs, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism officials, “Buy Malawian, Build Malawi” project manager, and others took part in the workshop that centered on SWOT analysis of SMEs; organizational structure of the Satellite Design Studio, expected potential services and products from, and fees and charges payable to the Satellite Design Studio.
