Mutharika upbeat to heal Malawi economy, launches investments handbook

President Peter Mutharika used his address during the launch of Malawi’s first-ever Bankable Projects Compendium – Malawi Investments Projects Handbook – to express  confidence that  his government will  heal  the country’s ailing economy.

Mutharika presided over the launch of Malawi’s Investments Compendium and National Dialogue on Private Sector Development at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Wednesday.

The handbook follows President Mutharika’s directive — upon his return from the Washington US Africa Leaders’ Summit — to all Ministries to produce a compendium of investment opportunities that would be used to woo potential investors in the country.

Mutharika said he  is committed and determined to change Malawi from a predominantly importing and consuming economy to a predominantly exporting and producing economy and to graduate Malawi’s economic status from aid dependency.

He also said government will strive to reduce public expenditure, guaranteeing the independence of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, strengthening public financial management systems and ensuring a restoration of donor confidence.

“Taking into account the current economic situation, there is no better time than now for government and the private sector to share notes for the good of our beloved country, Malawi,” Mutharika pointed out.

He noted that  that the compendium presentations by some business, trade and economic experts were top-class.

The presentations included ‘Doing Business In Malawi’ by the Bankers  Association of Malawi (BAM), ‘Challenges Affecting the Private Sector’ by the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) and ‘Malawi Projects Compendium’ by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.