H.E. Ambassador Amb. Chimango E. Chirwa, Ambassador / Head of Mission of Malawi Embassy in Ethiopia and Permanent Mission to the African Union made a courtesy visit to COMESA/LLPI on 15th April 2016.
The Ambassador was warmly welcomed by the Prof. Mwinkione Mwinyihija, Executive Director of COMESA/LLPI.
The objective of the visit was to clearly understand the activities of COMESA/LLPI to Member Countries in general and Malawi in particular.
During the visit of H.E. Amb. Chimango E. Chirwa to COMESA/LLPI, he made brief consultative meeting with COMESA/LLPI Team and he was presented with COMESA/LLPI activities performed in Malawi and proposed activities to be undertaken in the near future. Prof. Mwinyihija, during the consultative meeting, underscored that Malawi is on the right track in terms of addressing the challenges in the leather sector. He reiterated that the major achievements in Malawi are:
- Training of 40 SMEs in footwear making, who in turn transformed to form an association?
- The formulation, validation, launching and unpacking of the Malawi Leather Value Chain Strategy;
- Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute (SMEDI).
Prof. Mwinhija extended that proposed activities are emanating directly from the recommendations made in the Leather Value Chain Strategy. He strongly appreciated the leadership towards leather development of Malawi from the Minister of Industry and Trade, H.E. Hon. Joseph M. Mwanamveka and the technical team in Malawi.
H.E. Amb. Chimango E. Chirwa appreciated COMESA/LLPI activities to Member States in general and Malawi in particular. H.E. pledged that his Country will provide the full support to COMESA/LLPI to develop the leather sector in Malawi.