During the commemoration of the World Metrology Day, the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) has said underweight products could be negatively affecting the country’s chances of exploring the export market.

MBS Director General, Symon Mandala, said that exporting underweight products goes against government vision of increasing export. On the other hand, during the Annual Export Seminar organised by the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) on Tuesday, exporters spoke up on what they felt was leading to underperformance in their trade.

For instance, lack of equipment, capital, certification and accreditation is what was holding the gemstone products exporters from progressing, according to the trade’s experts. On the other hand, Amos Suluma, owner of a company that produces macadamia nuts, bemoaned that there is lack of deliberate government policy to support macadamia nuts production as well as the financing challenges as most of the banks do not take the risk to finance long-term investment. “Macadamia nuts take about seven years to produce yields for exports.” said Suluma.