Smedi sensitising MSMEs on product certification
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Institute (Smedi) has embarked on a regional exercise to sensitise micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through cooperatives on the importance of having their products certified.
Smedi also says it wants to train MSMEs on how to attain Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) certification.
The sensitisation meetings are a step towards bringing in more players in the Buy Malawi Strategy (BMS) which aims at promoting consumption of locally made products.
Smedi spokesperson Mian Mpesi said on Thursday the project is a collaboration between Smedi and the cooperatives to facilitate the certification process and ensuring that the cooperatives are aware of the specific product standards.
He said the initiative will ensure that cooperatives are producing high quality products which can be competitive on both domestic and international markets.
“This process is a conformity assessment procedure by which the MBS, through the Quality Assurance Services Department, gives a written assurance or a quality mark that a product, service or process conforms to specified requirements.
“On the other hand, Smedi will be linking with MBS to follow up on the bureau’s surveillance visits to the factories and ensuring minimum delays are made,” Mpesi explained.
He said, so far, officials from the institute have visited Dedza, Salima, Mchinji, Mwanza, Blantyre, Mzuzu and Nkhatabay districts to meet cooperatives.
