The stage is set for National Product Magazine Awards, scheduled for this Saturday, 21 June, at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe. The event is expected to bring together Malawi’s top innovators, manufacturers, and sector players in a celebration of locally made products and services that are driving the country’s development forward.
Organised by the National Product Magazine (NPM), the awards aim to recognise and reward individuals and enterprises contributing to the transformation of Malawi’s economy, particularly through key sectors such as Agriculture, Tourism, Mining, and Manufacturing collectively referred to as ATM + M.
Speaking ahead of the event, Patrick Botha, Publicist for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, underscored the significance of the awards in promoting Malawi’s vision of industrialisation, a key pillar of the Malawi 2063 development agenda.
“We believe that with players being recognised this way, they’ll do more in contributing towards the ATM sectors agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing,” said Botha.
He further noted that the Ministry is championing a shift from a predominantly importing economy to one that adds value to its raw materials through local production and manufacturing.
“We want to move away from raw exports that fetch low value, and instead focus on producing finished and semi-finished products that can earn more. This helps us achieve import substitution and addresses the balance of payments challenges,” he explained.
Beyond the awards ceremony, Botha added, the event promises to offer a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and innovation showcase, attracting participants from across Malawi and the broader SADC Region.
“We’re looking forward to a big gathering. Apart from receiving awards, participants will benefit from interactions with fellow players across sectors both local and regional,” said Botha.
In an earlier interview, the Chief Executive Officer of NPM, Arthur Chinyamula, expressed confidence that the awards will serve as more than just a night of recognition. They will act as a bold step towards inspiring industrial growth, boosting economic resilience, and fostering regional trade collaboration.
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