The bank’s head of business and commercial banking Graham Chipande made the sentiments in Lilongwe this morning when the bank presented a cheque of K15 million to the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC).

The money is the bank’s contribution towards a national construction conference slated for 7th to 9th August in Mangochi this year aimed at exploring ways of enhancing the construction industry as a catalyst for economic growth.

Chipande cited the bank’s K21 billion credit funding for the K34.5 billion Mzimba Street and Kenyatta Drive rehabilitation project in Lilongwe as part of the commitment the bank is making to the local construction sector.

According to NCIC chief executive officer engineer Gerald Khonje, the conference will focus on ways of promoting homegrown construction services to attain aspirations of the Malawi 2063 development agenda.

“You have someone who is making ceramic bathtubs locally; someone is making LED bulbs locally; you talk of roads, telecommunication and all those. These are the issues the conference will focus on,” said Eng. Khonje.

The theme for the conference is Innovate, Adapt, Excel, a Quality-Driven Construction Industry.

According to the NCIC boss, following government’s increased activity in the construction sector, the country is suffering from a huge construction funding deficit which can be reduced with the help of the private sector.