Ecobank Malawi has secured the K30 million headline platinum sponsorship for the inaugural Malawi Exporters Awards being organised by the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (Mitc) in Lilongwe.

Speaking yesterday in Blantyre when he handed over of the cheque, Ecobank Malawi managing director Raymond Fordwuo said the sponsorship is in line with the bank’s pan-African vision of contributing to Africa’s economic development and financial integration.

He said: “For Malawi, increasing our export base is critical to the economic stability and growth of our country. As we speak, the African Continental Free Trade Area [AfCFTA] with its single market of almost 1.4 billion people brings about unique and immense export growth opportunities for Malawi’s small and medium enterprises and corporates.

“At Ecobank Malawi, we are here to support all exporters to make the AfCFTA initiative a success.”

Caption: Fordwuo (L) hands over a dummy cheque to Kwengwere

Fordwuo said through the sponsorship, Ecobank Malawi wants to reaffirm its commitment to playing a role in facilitating export trade and contribute positively to the country’s economic development.

Mitc chief executive officer Paul Kwengwere thanked Ecobank Malawi for allocating the money towards the Malawi Exporters Awards.

He said: “This being the inaugural event, Ecobank Malawi will go down in history as being the first main sponsor of the event.

“Mitc considers the bank as a true partner that is ready and eager to contribute significantly to the development of this country. By providing this sponsorship, Ecobank Malawi has demonstrated beyond any doubt that it is indeed the pan-African bank.”

The awards are slated for April 5 to 6 at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

Ecobank Malawi Limited is part of the Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the parent company of the Ecobank Group, which employs over 14 000 people and serves about 29 million customers in the consumer, commercial and corporate banking sectors across 33 African countries.

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