This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New Scotland-Malawi business group
06/11/2006
A new Scotland-Malawi business group was launched at meeting in Edinburgh today.
It commits some of Scotland's leading business people together with the Confederation of British Inudstry, Scottish Council Development and Industry and others to help Malawi, one of the world's poorest countries, develop a thriving economy.
First Minister Jack McConnell attended the meeting, along with Hon Joyce Banda, Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Bill Hughes CBE, chairman of the Princes Trust in Scotland, and Dr Mathews Chikaonda, Group Chief Executive of the Press Corporation - Malawi's biggest private company which has interests in oil, banking and leisure.
The group has the support of Sir Tom Hunter and Sir Tom Farmer, as well as Iain McMillan director of CBI Scotland and the Lloyds TSB Foundation.
The meeting discussed ways that the Scottish business can support Malawi's private sector.
The First Minister said:
"The people of Malawi don't want to rely on foreign aid, they don't want charity forever. They want the chance to generate wealth that will allow them to invest in their health service and schools.
"The Scottish government is taking a lead by promoting Fair Trade at a national level, but prosperous economies are not created by governments, but by people with the drive and enthusiasm to start enterprises that generate wealth. That's why I welcome the formation of the Scotland Malawi Business Group and wish them every success in their efforts to support our partners in Malawi."
Bill Hughes said:
"The group will develop business and commercial links with Malawian businesses and businessmen to assist them in the development of sustainable businesses. This will involve responding to identifiable needs in areas such as skills training, trading opportunities and microfinance."
At present the Malawian economy is only a little over 1 per cent that of Scotland. The economy of Falkirk alone is roughly twice that of Malawi. This means that Malawi - where the average life expectancy has fallen to 37 and children under 5 are 27 times more likely to die than those in Scotland - can only afford to spend on average £6 per person each year on healthcare.
Sustainable economic development is a strand of Scotland's Co-operation Agreement with Malawi and within this a commitment to facilitate business skills exchange.
Today's meeting was part of a week long visit to Scotland by Hon Joyce Banda, Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation, and the Education & Vocational Training Minister Hon. Anna Kachikho.