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VICE PRESIDENT OF INDIA VISIT MALAWI TO STRENGTHEN BILATERALTIES
The Vice-President of India Right Honourable Dr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari paid a three day fruitful official visit to Malawi from 7th to 9th January 2010. Whilst in the country, Malawi’s President, His Excellency Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika hosted a State Dinner in honour of the Vice President.
The Vice President announced that the Government of India has extended a $50 million Line of Credit to the Malawi Government to support the development goals of Malawi. This Credit Line has been made following the full utilization of the $30 million which was made available to the Malawi Government in 2008. The Vice President expressed happiness and satisfaction with the utilization of the initial credit line.
Malawi thanked India for the development assistance that has been made available. Malawi also expressed satisfaction with the granting of Duty Free access to India on various products, within the framework of the Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme for Least Developed Countries, announced at the India-Africa Forum Summit, held in New Delhi, in 2008.
The Vice President also announced a $1 million grant as emergency relief for the rehabilitation of victims of a series of earthquakes that left many people in Karonga district homeless and in need of food water and shelter. In addition the Vice President announced a $4 million grant to support development in agriculture, health and education.
During the visit, the two countries signed three agreements to strengthen the bilateral cooperation that happily exists between Malawi and India, these include; a protocol for Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi and the Ministry of External Affairs of India; a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors; and an agreement between the National Small Industries Cooperation of India (NSIC) and One Village One Product (OVOP) of Malawi for mutual cooperation for development of small enterprises in Malawi. The function was witnessed by the visiting Vice President of India, Right Honourable Dr. Mohammad Hammid Ansari and his Malawian counterpart, Right Honourable Joyce Banda.
The two governments also agreed to explore the possibility of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the development of mineral resources, such as uranium and coal. The two countries agreed to expedite negotiations to conclude the MOU.
The new agreements are expected to enhance and re-energise the partnership between the two countries, particularly in areas of trade and commerce.
During the visit to Malawi, the Vice President of India was accompanied by the Right Honourable Joyce Banda, on a trip to Lake Malawi. The visitor also had the opportunity to see fishermen drying fish on wooden racks in the villages around Livingstonia Beach Hotel.
Other engagements for the Vice President included: a visit to Civic Offices, where he signed a visitors’ book; he also paid homage to the Kamuzu Mausoleum, where the first leader of Malawi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda was laid to rest. Right Honourable Dr. Ansari also attended a reception hosted by India’s High Commissioner to Malawi, His Excellency Ashok Kumar for the Indian community in Malawi.
On 9th January the Vice-President Right Honourable Dr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari left Malawi after completing a fruitful three-day official visit. Malawi’s Vice-President, Right Honourable Joyce Banda, Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials saw the Vice President off from the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, where he was accorded a traditional Malawian send-off by jubilant traditional dancers.
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