Date Of Article: 11/21/2002
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South African tile firm invests in Malawi
By: Ephraim Munthali
Housing Minister Peter Fachi has urged local companies to adopt partnership arrangements with other firms within the region to enhance trade with the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc). Fachi, who was officially launching new products —Harvey tiles from a South African based manufacturer—said Malawi as a Sadc member must fully participate in gaining technology from within the region and beyond through its private sector. Fachi said he was happy that Harvey Roofing Products and its parent company Murray and Roberts Group decided to operate in Malawi in partnership with Business Electronics and Commercial Services who will market the product in the country. “I, therefore, wish to thank Besco for going into partnership with Harvey Roofing Products and wish to encourage Besco to do more until the manufacturing stage of those products in Malawi,” he said. Fachi said the local production of building materials is crucial if the country is to move with the time with regard to modern technology in the housing sector. He said new technology in housing is important because the sector can contribute much to poverty reduction when it develops in the right direction. Fachi said since tiles are made of profiled steel coated with special paint and small stone clippings are bonded to one face of the file, the new roofing products will give a pleasant finish to buildings. The minister said government has already started using the new products on the Limbe Police block, one of the new big buildings under construction. He said there are plans to use Harvey tiles in the new projects currently on the drawing board. “Government has reached this stage because it has been assured of the advantages of Harvey roofing which are being leak proof, burglar proof, maintenance free and cheaper with regard to the supporting structure when compared to conventional roofing tiles,” said Fachi. Malawi imports most of its corrugated iron sheets and IBR sheets from South Africa. Fachi asked Harvey Roofing to consider operating in Malawi to ease the importation burden currently experienced by Malawians.
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