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| Govt to help small producers—Mpasu |
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by
Ayam Maeresa, 11 June 2003
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17:59:52
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Commerce and Industry Minister Sam Mpasu said on Monday government is running a programme to assist build up the output muscle of local small scale producers.
Mpasu said his ministry is taking the initiative under the cooperative development programme. He said government hopes the initiative will boost output for small scale producers to make reliable suppliers of raw materials to large enterprises.
He said government is aware that most large enterprises import raw materials from neighbouring countries and even far off places to meet their production demands because local suppliers are unreliable.
He said in some cases manufacturers have opted to import raw materials even when such items are available in the country.
“They cite poor quality, inadequate quantities and unreliable deliveries as reasons for this action,” said Mpasu. “[This programme] aims to assist small scale producers pool resources together and deliver good quality products and inadequate quantities.”
The minister said is crucial now that the world is becoming one trading village through the concept of globalisation that, he said, offers both export markets and threats to domestic industry.
He said large enterprises will do the country good if they produce more for export, while importing less.
“Globalisation can entail Malawi losing its industrial base if our companies are not competitive in quality and packaging,” he said.
He said government is putting up trade remedies laws and consumer protection laws to mainly protect the consumer from cheating producers and traders.
Said Mpasu: “All these initiatives, which at first chance tend to focus on consumer protection will in the end also benefit producers.”
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