EU for continued strategic priority implementation
The European Union (EU) says it will continue implementing strategic priorities of its cooperation with the Malawi Government.
New EU Ambassador Sandra Paesen made the remarks in her address to the media on Tuesday after presenting her letters of credence to President Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
She said her focus is on maintaining and strengthening the good working relationship and cooperation between EU and the Malawi Government, including regular political dialogue on Malawi’s ambitions and regional issues within the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc).
Paesen said her discussion with Mutharika, held in camera, centred on the domestic political agenda, the economy and trade and investment agenda, development cooperation and governance, elections and the EU external investment plan, among other things.
On his part, Norwegian Ambassador Steinar Egil Hagen, who also presented his credentials to Mutharika on the same day, told journalists that his government is committed to investing in Malawi.
“The President also said we need more private sector involvement in Malawi and as such the embassy will work to stimulate and get private companies from Norway involved in investment in Malawi,” he said.
The envoy said his country is expanding its main sectors of health, education, agriculture and good governance in line with Malawi Government’s policy to ensure that “we can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The strategic priorities outlined in the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme for Malawi include supporting governance and accountability, growth and jobs, as well as vulnerable people through social cash transfer and secondary education.
EU and Malawi Government relations date back to 1978 while that with Norway dates back to 1965, but the Norwegian embassy was established in Malawi in 1999.
