By Linda Kwanjana
President of Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Lekani Katandula has commended restoration of power generation especially Kapichira, saying power is critical component in as far as industrialisation is concerned.
Katandula said this in Blantyre during the Commissioning of Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) offices and laboratories.
“We are glad Your Excellency that Kapichira Power Station is now back to full capacity. Electricity is a critical ingredient in the manufacturing process and, as more power is added to the grid in the coming months and years, we should expect the emergence of more manufacturing units that will help in rebalancing our trade
position,” he said.
Katandula applauded the Government for introducing a number of incentives through the 2023/2024 National Budget despite the difficult financial circumstances in which it is operating.
“In particular, we noted the introduction of duty-free importation of equipment and building materials, and tax holidays of up to 10 years for mega farms and related agro-processing. We take this as a serious signal of your government’s commitment to reversing the current unwanted economic trend in this country,” he said.
Moving forward, Katandula said the government should continue making improvements in the energy sector in order to improve reliability and access for the wider population as well as promoting fiscal discipline in the use of financial resources in order to reverse the unsustainable debt position.
He also urged Government to prioritize procurement of domestically produced goods and services to boost local production and save foreign exchange.