By The Forum

President Peter Mutharika has told newly appointed Minister of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism Simon Itaye to hit the ground running, warning that there will be no honeymoon period as Malawi seeks to sustain economic recovery.

Speaking on Tuesday during Itaye’s swearing-in ceremony, Mutharika said the new minister was joining Cabinet at a critical moment.

“You have joined the Cabinet at a time when our nation is steadily recovering from a difficult period of economic instability,” Mutharika said. “So there is no honeymoon for you. You have to start working immediately.”

The President urged Itaye to take charge of efforts to transform Malawi into a productive, export-oriented economy.

“I want our nation to produce more. That is why I created this Ministry of Industrialization, Business, Trade and Tourism  to turn around the economy,” Mutharika said.

Mutharika expressed confidence in Itaye, citing his extensive background as an entrepreneur and corporate manager.

“I have every hope that you will excel in your portfolio and deliver tangible results to the sector,” he said, while urging the minister to uphold integrity, responsibility and service to Malawians, and to provide honest and objective advice.

In his remarks, Itaye agreed that his appointment comes at a pivotal time and pledged to engage widely with industry players to understand the operating environment.

He said his focus would be on leading a transformative agenda that benefits all stakeholders and the country at large.

Itaye replaces George Partridge, who has been reassigned as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

Coming from the private sector, Itaye is a seasoned financial expert with experience in strategic management, product development and international trade. He previously served as Managing Director of Nampak Malawi Limited, the country’s leading packaging manufacturer, and later worked as a consultant in financial, treasury and investment services.

He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accountancy, as well as an MBA in Strategic Management from the University of Malawi and Thames Valley University.

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