By Chisomo Phiri
The Malawi’s servant leader President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday May 17,2023 officially opened the new high tech Malawi Bureau of Standards Laboratories under its new office complex in Blantyre.
Initiated under the Standardization Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) project, the new facility, worth 18.4 billion kwacha gives the Bureau capacity to test and certify products according to various international standards.
In his speech, President Chakwera said the new constructedMBS office and laboratories complex is going to boost the country’s export potential by reducing the cost of doing business for Malawi’s companies who have been spending a lot in re-testing, re-inspection and re-certification in foreign markets.
Chakwera thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Government of Norway, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and European Union for their technical and financial support towards construction of the facility.
“This is the right time to utilise the new standardization facilities to open new and sustainable export markets for local products.
“This year’s theme: ‘Rebalancing Malawi’s Trade Through Industrialisation’ reinvigorates our resolve to open new frontiers on the international stage for our products and services,” said Chakwera.
He promised that his administration will continue putting in place business-friendly policies and all requisite infrastructure to help local businesses harness opportunities in regional markets and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
The Board Chair of Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS), Davlin Chokazinga said the construction of the facilities is timely as many of their operations needed the same.
“Therefore, in order to provide internationally recognized services, the MBS needed to have facilities and competent human resources that are at par with the international best practice,” he said.
He thanked the State President for the support rendered to them to finish the project.
In detail,the MBS modern laboratory facilities will upscale Malawi’s capacity in conforming with global standards in terms of measurements and tests.
This will advantageously facilitate trade between Malawi and other economies by reducing costs of doing business for local businesses and providing common reference points for Malawian products in regional and global markets.
Export products from Malawi will not have to go through strenuous re-testing, re-inspection and re-certification before entering these foreign markets.
The construction of the MBS facility was financed by the Government of Malawi with support from the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union.
