Media challenged to extensive coverage of SATCP implementation

Media has been challenged to provide extensive coverage of the implementation of Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (SATCP) in order to attract direct foreign investment.

Deputy Director for Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Charles Mtonga made the challenged Monday during the opening of a two-day Media Orientation and Tour for SACTP at Vintage Hotel in Mponela, Dowa.

He said the project views Media as the strategic pattern to foster its implementation by highlighting opportunities available within the project which could attract meaningful investments.

Mtonga believes that the media should provide adequate information which would be used extensive and attract private sector participation.

“The success of the Media participation in the implementation process will largely depend on news articles that will be provide by various Media houses being oriented on the project,” he said.

The Deputy Director said the orientation accords the Media an occasion to fully engage with various implementing agencies operating in the project.

“We would like to encourage the media to use the orientation to interact freely with the agencies and explore their roles in the project,” Mtonga added.

He said the Media would be given an opportunity to escalate some of the project being implemented within Nacala Corridor such National Single Window, Liwonde–Matawale Road Rehabilitation, weighbridges at Liwonde, ASYCUDA and Drones at Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and relocation and upgrading of Muloza Border Post.

Programme Manager for SATCP, Hestings Ngoma said the project would accord the Media to appreciation the implement of National Single window in which Ministry of Trade was implementing within the project.

He said the implementation of National Single Window would help reduce time business community spend at the border.