The Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) took part in the launch of Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM) Project 2 in Ntchisi. The MBS is among key government institutions partnering with AGCOM in transforming Agriculture sector and turning around the economy from being consuming and importing to producing and exporting economy.

Briefing His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the Director General of the MBS Dr Bernard Thole said the compliance of locally produced products to relevant Malawi Standards and Certification are critical in expanding export base of Malawi and realization of Agenda 2063. He added that MBS has come to engage the beneficiaries of AGCOM on the process of certification as most of the upcoming Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’S) have knowledge gap especially on the importance of certification for their products to have MBS quality marks and how that open more market streams for their products both locally and abroad.

Malawi is predominantly exporting Agro-based products. The Country is embracing value addition in its Agro-products and expanding streams of exports. Certification of the products by the MBS is critical if Malawi products are to effectively compete and stand global market quality needs.

The Director General further briefed the President that MBS received a major capacity building boost from AGCOM 1. With funding from AGCOM Project, the MBS will have a modern regional laboratory and office facilities in Lilongwe. The major benefit of the facility is that the MBS will be able to conduct tests on samples in the central region without taking them to its head office in Blantyre and this will improve service delivery because it will both reduce workload of samples going to Head Office laboratories and clients will be timely receiving tests results. The new facility will significantly help the MBS to support a lot of SME’s and cooperatives across the country in certification as part of its ongoing prioritized reform area in supporting their economic growth and economic transformation of the country.