1 UNSD Workshop on Manufacturing Statistics 4-7 May 2009, Lusaka, Zambia Presented by: Blignaut Joshua Kadam’manja Economics Section; National Accounts, Government of Malawi National Statistical Office

2 OVERVIEW 1. Introduction 2. Selected Summary Statistics 3. System of Data Collection 4. Data Dissemination 5. Problems in data collection, compilation and dissemination

3 1. Introduction Malawi economy was strong in the first fifteen years of independence ( ) The early success of the economy is associated with a decisive import substitution industrialization and export-led agricultural development As such the share of manufacturing output in GDP increased from 8% in 1964 to 12% in However, this success was interrupted by economic crisis in the late 1970’s partly due to external shocks such as 1979 oil shock and international transport bottlenecks due to civil war in Mozambique

4 1. Introduction cont. The economic crisis led to adoption of IMF Stabilization and the World Bank structural adjustment policies starting from 1981 to 1994 as such Malawi switched to industrialization strategy from import substitution to export orientation. However, the economic growth has been erratic over the period as result Malawi has depended on donor financing Since 1995 the government has pursued less protective policy and has encouraged both domestic and foreign investment in manufacturing sector without restrictions on ownership, size of investment, source of funds and destination of final product except on environmental, health and national security concerns

5 1. Introduction cont. The Malawi Government at the moment strives hard to transform the economy from predominantly importing and consuming to producing and exporting country thereby contributing significantly towards sustainable economic growth, job creation, empowerment of locals, and generation of competitive exports and harnessing local resources.

6 2. Selected Summary Statistics 2. Selected Summary Statistics

7 2. Selected Summary Statistics cont.

8 3. System of Data Collection 3.1. Coverage 3.2. Instruments of Data Collection 3.3. Periodicity of Data Collection 3.4. Level of detail and data items

Coverage  Private, Statutory bodies and Public (Government) sector industries engaged in the production and sale of goods and services on the market at a price normally designed to cover production cost  Large-scale and Medium-scale enterprises with respect to production, employment characteristics, profitability level

Instruments of Data Collection  In recent years mail questionnaires have been used to collect information from large-scale enterprises  At the moment questionnaires are personally delivered to both large- scale and medium-scale enterprises to enhance response rate

Periodicity of Data Collection  Data collection is done once in a year (financial year) with a reference period of 12 months  The financial year is determined on the basis of the bias of the months within the year, e. g an enterprise with its financial year ending on April 30 is considered to have operated in the previous year because the current year has only 4 months as compared to 8 months in the previous year.

Level of detail and data items  The United Nations International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC 3; New York, 1990) is used to classify economic activities in the manufacturing sector and where possible tables are presented at the 4-digit level. However, some activities are combined in order to ensure confidentiality in line with the Malawi Statistics Act To this effect the report has activities classified at 2-digit, 3-digit and 4-digit levels  S elected Data items: Employment, Total Income, Total wages and salaries (remuneration), Total purchases, Total Sales, Value added, Capital investments, Disposal of Fixed Assets, Gross profit and Depreciation

13 4. Data Dissemination Data is disseminated annually and quarterly in different media: 4.1. Publications and Paper based printed reports that include Statistical Bulletins, National Accounts and Annual Economic Survey Reports, Statistical Year Book 4.2. Electronic media that include CD-ROMs and on the NSO website 4.3. Library and counter services are set at the Headquarters and Regional offices where customers buy quarterly and annual statistical bulletins and reports 4.4Data requests are done through phone call, fax and

14 5. Problems in data collection, compilation and dissemination 5. Problems in data collection, compilation and dissemination 5.1. Unwillingness and reluctance to respond by respondents 5.2. Data quality and completeness 5.3. Transport 5.4. Financial resources

15 MORE INFORMATION:

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