By Patience Longwe
The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Corporation (SMEDCO) plans to establish cottage industries in every Constituency as part of a drive to scale up local manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.
Speaking with the media on Thursday at SMEDCO offices in Lilongwe, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Kondwani Kachamba said the corporation will engage with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to ring-fence part of the Constituency Development Fund ( CDF) for setting up manufacturing hubs.
“We will hold a discussion with local government to spare resources in CDF to set up Manufacturing hubs,” he said.
He added that SMEDCO will sign agreements with major retail outlets to stock locally made products, a move aimed at limiting imports and expanding market access for small producers.
Kachamba said the corporation intends to ramp up production using existing equipment and infrastructure across the country.
Acknowledging delays caused by bureaucracy in public institutions, he disclosed plans to register a commercial company under SMEDCO to spearhead local manufacturing.
“To fast-track local manufacturing, SMEDCO will establish its own commercial company,” he said.
The push comes as government intensifies efforts to industrialise at constituency level and create jobs through small and medium enterprises.
