Speaking on Wednesday during the MACRA ICT Innovation Awards in Lilongwe, Phiri urged engineered execution to scale local technologies, saying frameworks like the Malawi 2063 Vision exist, but weak implementation and reliance on foreign systems undermine innovation and drive capital outflows.
He then outlined a six-pillar framework focusing on collaboration, skills development, patient financing, enabling policy, infrastructure investment and adoption of local technologies, saying these are key to building a sustainable and export-ready digital economy.
Meanwhile, Minister of Trade and Industry Symon Itaye says government is encouraged that youth-led innovations are creating jobs and producing market-ready solutions, with strong potential in education and agriculture sectors.