Blantyre, Malawi – The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) believes the commissioning of the UniPod project will help reduce Malawi’s reliance on imports by fostering innovation within the country.
Funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UniPod project at MUBAS supports innovation and creativity among both students and the wider community.
Francis Masi, the UniPod Manager, said the project has the potential to make Malawi a hub of creativity and innovation. “This development will enable the country to purchase locally produced materials such as Agriculture and Industrial Machinery,” Masi stated.
The UniPod serves as a platform for creators and innovators from various academic institutions and members of the Malawian public. The project emphasizes the importance of intellectual property rights, ensuring that innovators receive proper recognition and protection for their work.
Gift Kunyungwi, a leading mechanical engineer at the industrial park, highlighted the potential of the UniPod to modernize equipment at the industrial site. “The industrial park can produce meat products, soya finished products, and other essential products, presenting opportunities for import substitution in the country,” Kunyungwi stated.
Waheed Mia, an engineer leading the development of a local handheld tractor, said the project will support the Malawi government’s first-year implementation plan (MIP1), which focuses on agricultural mechanization and industrialization. “Our dream is to support the government in achieving the Malawi 2063 vision through the production of locally manufactured tractors, reducing import costs for Malawians,” Mia said.
