MAIIC rolls out: Chaponda says it will be spearheading private sector development
Malawi Agricultural and Industrial Investment Corporation (Maiic) activities have finally been operationalised at function which took place at Bingu International Conference Centre.
Maiic chief executive officer Taziona Chaponda said during the event that robust private sector is vital for the development of any country.
He said the institution, operating under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, will work closely with businesses to build their capacity to better articulate their business plans, will work with the commercial banks in ensuring economic gains.
“The establishment of MAIIC is a ground breaking partnership between government, private sector and international investors to play a leading role as a catalyst for socio economic development job and wealth creation in Malawi,” he said.
Chaponda said MIIC will work tirelessly in achieving its goals which is to drive private sector led economic development through the mobilization of finance skills and technology for sustainable wealth creation.
Maicc plans to partner microfinance institutions (MFIs) as one of its unique product offering to bolster their lending activities to small-scale businesses, farmers and start-ups.
“This unique offering comes from the understanding that rural entrepreneurship is a critical path for growing Malawi’s economy and, when supported, will drive productivity, innovation and job creation,” said Chaponda.
Speaking during the function, Reserve Bank Governor, Dalitso Kabambe said Malawi economy has stabilised since 2017 adding that going forward is not about stabilising the economy but to grow the economy.
“Its time to create jobs which our youth are demanding,” Kabambe has since urged private sector to support this new venture.
The establishment of Maiic follows findings of a study in 2013 and 2018 that found that government-led development finance institutions were plagued by numerouns government hitches.
Maiic’s shareholding structure consists of Malawi Government’s stake at 20 percent and 80 percent to come from the private sector, the public and foreign investors.
The government has already provided the initial seed capital of $25 million (about K18.5 billion) and that Maiic is engaging local financial institutions, the private sector and international development finance institutions to raise the rest of the capital.
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This is a good initiative. However, we must not see the amwenyes accessing funds from this institution like the way it happened with Export Development Bank. This should also be targetted at business pipo in districts and not only a mtauni depending on the nature on the existing businesses and the yet to be started. Timveko zina.
Raising the balance of capital of USD100 in Malawi is quite an uphill. Will Malawians understand the concept of this organisation after so many have been politicised. The concept is good but our politicians they use such organisations for cash gate.
Tanzanians came to Malawi to learn about MASAF and now you cannot compare development there and Malawi, people in rural areas are still sleeping on empty stomachs. God have mercy on us, what wrong did Malawians commit to deserve no share of the economic cake?