The MBS has implemented the second phase of training Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country, after conducting similar training sessions earlier this year. The two-day training will take place in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Liwonde and Karonga.

The MBS certification has always been perceived as expensive and rigorous. As such, the MBS and the Small and Medium Development Institute (SMEDI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 2020 in order to build the capacity of SMEs by enhancing the knowledge and certification gap.

SMEs account for a greater proportion of businesses in the country, they are important to the creation of jobs and generally contribute to the growth of national’s economy.  However, most SMEs have failed to enter the formal market because they do not meet the minimum requirements stipulated in relevant mandatory Malawi Standards.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony for the trainings in Karonga on Monday 14th June 2021, MBS Director General, Mr Symon Mandala, said the training sessions would assist the SMEs achieve certification in the long run, which would allow their products to be accepted on both the local and international markets. Mr Mandala further said apart from offering free training sessions to the SME’s under the MoU, the MBS has reduced the initial certification fee and cost of buying Malawi Standards by half for the SMEs.

The Business Information Specialist at SMEDI, Mr Harvey Chiwaya encouraged the participants to take the training seriously and use this platform to get right information as regards to the activities of the MBS.

The training sessions under the MBS/SMEDI MoU are continuing till 2022. It is hoped that this process will assist in the creation of one million jobs.

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