COMPANIES in Scotland are being urged to support Executive efforts to help steer Malawi, one of Africa's poorest nations, out of poverty.
A number of Scots business leaders have already pledged to back the work of the planned Scotland Malawi Business Group, including CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan and Alan Wilson, chief executive of the Scottish Council Development and Industry.
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First Minister Jack McConnell wants Scottish firms to use their expertise to help boost private sector development in Malawi, which has a GDP of around 170 times less than Scotland.
The call builds on a co-operation agreement struck last year between Mr McConnell and Malawi, whose links with Scotland stretch back more than 150 years to the days of David Livingstone and his efforts to abolish the slave trade.
So far around 35 Scottish companies have received around £5 million of funding from the International development Fund to carry out work in Malawi, mainly in areas of healthcare and education. But Mr McConnell wants more to be done on the business front to help Malawi boost its economic performance.
"Prosperous economies are not created by governments, but by people with drive and enthusiasm to start enterprises that generate wealth," said the First Minister.
Bill Hughes, a former chairman of CBI Scotland, is co-ordinating the embryonic group's efforts.
He said: "There is no doubt that the group is going to be formed because of the interest shown."
Monday, 16 June 2008
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Sorry for being 'off post', Cryton, but I like to let you know my gratitude for the two Malablogrolls..., besides your 'Stories on Malawi'. I recently came across Clement Nyirenda's website and blog, which drove me to yours...
Soon - on 26 of June or 27 of August, this year, I'll set up 'Il sentiero dei camaleonti (The Chameleons' Pathway)', entirely devoted to bridge Italy and Malawi (my late father was born in Blantyre, Nyasaland), with thorough fair play, concreteness and imagination. It will be in Italian, English and chiChewa, if some Malawian helps me with Chichewa.
Alberto, Italy.
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