Malawi needs money, not jotters, to help economic development, MSPs are told

SCOTLAND should not send jotters and pencils to Malawi, as that could undermine economic development in Africa, where local producers are already making the items, MSPs were told yesterday.

George Finlayson, of the Scotland Malawi Business Group, told Holyrood's European and external relations committee that economic growth was critical in wiping out poverty in developing countries such as Malawi.

"What we should be doing is sending money to allow the Malawian business people to develop a proper market in these," he said.

The committee is carrying out an inquiry into international development and has been looking at Scotland's high-profile aid links with the African nation.

Malawi's leadership recently asked the Scottish Government to refocus its programme to allow more resources to be committed to sustainable economic development.