President Bingu wa Mutharika has sharply hinted his reaction to threats of donor freeze by declaring that Malawi as a country will be developed by Malawians.

The president made the remarks when he officially opened the 23rd Malawi International Trade Fair at the trade fair grounds in the commercial city Blantyre.

“Let me repeat that Malawi will be developed by Malawians, “he said without elaborating.

His statement comes after Britain announced the withholding all new aid commitments to Malawi while reviewing its relationship with the country following the recent expulsion from Malawi of High Commissioner Fergus Cochrane-Dyet.

Nyasa Times published a letter by Secretary for State for International Development Andrew Mitchell to President Mutharika indicating that the UK is reviewing its relations with Malawi, including aid programmes

In his speech on Friday, the Malawi leader who looked relaxed, also warned traders that time to produce substandard goods is over and that Malawians should now think of the international market.

“Days of producing low quality goods for Malawians while supplying quality products to foreign markets is over, we need to change that tradition,” he said.

Mutharika also appealed to neighbouring countries to embrace his pet project, the Shire Zambezi Waterway project.

He said his government will also introduce appropriate incentives for investments.

On a lighter note, Mutharika sent the gathering into stitches of laughter when he promised to come back next year to see if there will be improvements despite claims by an American preacher that the world ends on May 21.

There is a record 370 companies to display and get orders for their assorted wares for the next nine days of the trade fair.

The organizers, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), say his year the Fair has drawn participants from eight countries.

“There is high inquisitiveness among the participants and the new outlook of some areas such as the car park has attracted a lot of attention from many participants,” MCCCI Chief Executive Officer Chancellor Kaferapanjira said.

Kaferapanjira said eight countries which include Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Turkey, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya and Bangladesh, are participating for the first time in the 20th -29th May 2011 event.

According to the CEO, they have this year created more exhibition space for the partakers with the COMESA Hall having beautiful premade pavilions.

This year’s Fair is being organized under the theme “Promoting Trade Through Innovation” and MCCCI expects close to 100 000 visitors during the nine-day exhibition.

Last year, about 250 companies including those from Malawi took part in the event with about 43000 visitors.—(Reporting by Jeden Chilikunzako and Green Muheya, Nyasa Times)