Mwanamveka drums up ‘best buy Malawi’
Minister of Trade and Industry, Joseph Mwanamveka has urged Malawians to embrace local products for the enhancement and growth of the economy.
He said this on Tuesday in Lilongwe after briefing the press of the launch of Buy Malawian, Build Malawi Strategy by President Professor Peter Mutharika on 18 March at the Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Mwanamveka said it is unfortunate that most Malawians prefer to buy foreign goods rather than local ones.
“We would like to change the mindset of the people of not buying local goods, in the Buy Malawian, build Malawi Strategy we have managed to analyse some of the challenges why Malawians do not buy their own locally made products.
“Some of the reasons include pricing, lack of quality products, lack of access to markets and less production, therefore, we intend to enhance manufacturing, value addition, increase exportation of the Malawian goods and replacement of the importation goods on the market to help in promotion of the local goods,” said Mwanamveka.
According to Mwanamveka, if Malawians promote their own products, it means that demand, production and employment will increase.
He added that it is the wish of the Government to see increased production of local goods for exportation and less importation of goods hence the promotion of increased production of Agricultural products.
Mwanamveka also said that the strategy has come about after reviewing the Best Malawian Campaign which was launched in 2009, which has however not born any positive fruits since its launch.
The Buy Malawian, Build Malawi Strategy mainly aims at communicating to the public the benefits of buying local products.
SOAP UJA WA (WADA-WADA ) MUMAMUDZIWA INU ANDUNA ??????
My beloved minister and my memmber of parliament for CZ south, take note that Malawians prefer to buy foreign goods rather than locals because of poor quality and prohibitive prices.Is the suit, tie,socks,shirt u r wearing locally made?
Anduna, kodi mafuta oyelesa mukuzola kumasowo ndiopangidwa mu Malawi muno?
mafuta oyeletsa osati mafuta oyelesa. mukudzola osati mukuzola. Bwanji kodi, Chichewa chikukanikani, chingelezi, simukwanitsa. Chilakhulidwe mumatha ndi chiti
I would like to thank the Honorable minister with caution. Firstly I want to register my understanding that the Buy Malawian concept is not a new concept at all. It has been there since Dr Banda regime. Those who are sincere with their minds can agree with me. It used to be called Best Buy Malawian. So what is buy malawian campaign? I want to challenge our leaders that this very good concept will remain another empty rhetoric if no strategy is put in place to see this concept being realised. While I agree we are in a liberalised economy,… Read more »
Good move, mainly those who supply foreign goods are asian’s who they don’t pay tax or they invade tax not talk about smuggling, making local products expensive hence being taxed high, citizens tend to go for the cheapest available, impose high taxes on imports which are locally made, sweets,body lotions,soap,buicuits etc
muyambe ndinu bwana. it starts from the top. Starting with the sate house and your house we shall find foreign goods only. You want malawians to buy local while u enjoy foreign goods. Lead by example. It should not just be rhetoric.
You should have done this a long time ago. But you are wasting time on foregin investment instead of encouraging local production.
Product quality is a ‘major’ issue!!!
O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….O Let it be put straight in the face of Mwanamveka that this campaign is futile . . . Consumers are rational economic agents. Thus, for two products with similar quality but different prices, a consumer will always go for the cheaper product. Similary, for same price but different quality, a consumer will always go for the higher quality product; regardless of whether it is locally produced or imported. . . . Now, people will not buy goods or services just because of the mere fact that they are locally produced even if they are not competitive – on price,… Read more »
The message is very loud and clear by Bwana minister , you will find that our goods are of low quality and expensive than imported goods , that’s the reason why we Malawians prefer to buy imported goods.