United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative Shigeki Komatsubara has called upon the private sector to focus on the opportunities to grow their ventures and not to dwell on the challenges.
Speaking at the panel discussion jointly organized by United Nations Development Programme and Economics Association of Malawi on Accelerating Private Sector Recovery from the Impact of Economic Shocks in Blantyre.
The meeting brought together various stakeholders including the academia, small and medium business operators.
Komatsubara acknowledged the challenges that the private sector is facing from the spillover effects of Covid 19, erratic rains experienced in some parts of the country coupled with tropical cyclones.
“It is true that the private sector is facing so many challenges despite it being the engine of economic growth of the nation, that doesn’t change the fact of the many opportunities that the companies can exploit for their growth and competitiveness,” he said.
Komatsubara cited the Africa Trade Area and the Digital economy as some of the promising ventures that if fully embraced would benefit the private sector in general.
On his part Andrew Kumbatira ECAMA’s Secretary General hailed the discussion as a great platform for the private sector, government and other stakeholders to discuss practical solutions to the challenges facing the private sector both internally and external
“government policies should address the current environment that the private sector is facing by first looking at practical ways of curbing imports that can easily be manufactured locally and this can be easily achieved through these types of engagements”
Director of Private Sector in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Diamond Chikhasu commended UNDP and ECAMA for organizing such a discussion which will provide them a platform to listen to the views that will ultimately help them in reviewing policies so that the environment is conducive for business players.
“our role as government is to ensure that there are appropriate policies that should enable the private sector operate freely therefore this is a right platform that accords us the opportunity to come up with policies that are in line with the current situation facing the sector,” he said.