On Tuesday, 26th February, 2019 The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism through the Malawi Enterprise Productivity Enhancement (MEPE) project hosted a business breakfast with potential buyers of leather goods and Textiles to encourage them to buy goods produced by the SMEs and Cooperatives in the Country.
Over 50 guests from Ministries, Government Agencies and the Private sector participated in the event. In his opening remarks, the moderator of the event, Mr. Mayeso Msokera said: “the event presents a unique opportunity for influential Government and Private Sector Leaders to appreciate the quality of footwear and leather goods that SMEs in Malawi are able to produce through the state-of-the-art Leather Design Studio (LDS) and consider buying their products.
Dr. Ken Ndala, Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, was the Guest of honour at the event. In his address, he reaffirmed Government’s commitment to continue supporting the leather sector with policies and strategies aimed at promoting the development of leather products value chains; promoting access to market, finance and improved technologies. He cited the recently passed Malawi Public Procurement Law (2017) which requires public procuring entities to buy at least 60% of their needs from local SMEs or indigenous Malawians as one of the ways in which Government is promoting SMEs participation in public procurement.
Speaking on behalf of the SMEs, the Vice Chairperson for Leather Industry Association of Malawi (LIAMA) thanked the Ministry for hosting the event and the business community that had come to establish business linkages with the SMEs. During the event, the invited guests from Government and the Private Sector pledged their commitment to collaborate with the SMEs by sourcing most of their footwear needs from the LDS.
