SMEs expo starts today
A three-day small and medium enterprises (SMEs) exposition organised by the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) starts today at Chichiri Trade Fair Grounds in Blantyre.
The expo is being held under the theme ‘SMEs Growth Through Business Linkages’.
The annual event is aimed at bringing together SMEs to share business ideas among other things.
The forum would also accord participants a chance to showcase their products and services.
This comes amid challenges of structural barriers to finance among SMEs.
It also comes as Malawi is failing to diversify the base of its economy from reliance on agricultural production to direct investment in multiple sectors.
Our team who visited the Chichiri Trade Fair Ground yesterday found some exhibitors doing final touches on pavilions.
MCCCI Head of Communications, Millie Kasunda, said the forum would facilitate growth among SMEs.
She said the expo seeks to promote SMEs through capacity-building, technology and access to credit, among other areas.
“The response from both SMEs and corporate exhibitors is overwhelming. All is in place and the forum would have an impact in ensuring growth of the private sector,” Kasunda said.
She said holding the event was in line with the chamber’s aspirations of promoting trade in the country.
“The event intends to bring a diverse spectrum of businesses as it brings solutions to the numerous challenges that SMEs face.
“The solutions are meant to bring about transformation of the SME businesses, hence ‘enhancing growth,” Kasunda said.
MCCCI has partnered Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority who will have an information session this afternoon on investment opportunities in the energy sector, particularly in rural areas.
The private sector representative body is also working with the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship, a nongovernmental organisation advocating improved agriculture production.
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