The Ministry of Trade has challenged the private sector to focus on value addition and produce high quality products that can compete on international market.

The appeal comes when the country is about to start implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) from 1st July this year (2021).

Director of Trade in the ministry, Clement Kumbemba, made the call recently in Mzuzu during a review and validation workshop for Malawi AFCFTA National Implementation Strategy saying the private sector needs to invest more in modern technology to ensure the country’s products surpass those produced by neighbouring countries.

Kumbemba said: “We don’t want just to produce for the sake of producing as Africa tends to produce homogenous products, but we want to focus more on value addition by producing products that are appealing because ultimately, the customer will go for products that are of high quality.”

Program Management Officer for African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), Batanai Chikwene, hailed Malawi Government for domesticating the AFCFTA Agreement and making preparations to ensure that trade under the AFCFTA in Malawi commences in earnest on 1st July, 2021.

The arrangement aims at ensuring that African countries start trading more among themselves and creating wealth for Africa to benefit African populations.