It was fitting that the Ambassador of the world’s leading economy, the United States of America on this particular day should be meeting Malawi’s leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) conglomerate Rab Group top brass. The Ambassador, Mrs. Virginia Palmer was in her jovial mood and her trademark smile was the first thing one would notice as she embarked from her official vehicle.
Before her arrival I had assumed she will arrive with pomp in a kilometer long motorcade convoy of limousines and hundreds of those dark sun glass clad C.I.A. or F.B.I. type of bodyguards we normally see in Hollywood movies depicting high ranking US government officials.
But here she was with none of the pomp I had anticipated. She greeted everyone at the reception area with a friendly “hello” before heading to the boardroom where she was to meet Rab Group’s Deputy Chairman Mr. Sai Kiran Josyabhatla and C.E.O. Mr Ahmed Sunka with some Managerial Heads of different Departments.
Taking her through the history pages of Rab Group, the Deputy Chairman added that as a company, Rab Group is doing its part in complimenting the Malawi Government’s efforts of creating employment for the people of Malawi, Mr. Josyabhatla was quick to point out that currently Rab Group has a workforce of about 2500 employees.
He further acknowledged that Malawi being an agriculture based economy, Rab Group has devised ways of helping and empowering Malawian farmers…. for instance, offering better and competitive prices for their farm produce.
On his part,Rab Group C.E.O Mr. Sunka pointed out on how the company has made strides in crop value addition by producing quality export products, which earn foreign exchange for the country. He cited products such as Classic Peanut Butter, Rab’s Super Faya rice, Sunshine Likuni Phala and Rab’s Malawi Toor Dhall just to mention a few.
In her remarks, the US Ambassadorassured of her country’s commitment in helping Malawian manufacturing companies, She mentioned organizations such as, the World Food Programme (W.F.P), Mary Meals, Feed the Childrenjust to mention a few who get funding from the US government, these organisations have been working closely with Rab Group in a number of ways like school feeding programmes. Shesaid the US government through Feed the Future has partnered with Kulimagold, a sister company of Rab Group inhelping farmers in a program called SRAMS.
After the meeting, it was the time for the US Ambassador to see Rab Group’s pride and joy…its workforce and factories. After touring the factories, it was time for the Ambassadorto bid farewell to Rab Group Officials and employees. What a fruitful and productive visit this has been for Rab Group.
