India urges Malawi to curb wastage of resources
India has underscored its readiness to forge stronger bilateral relations with Malawi, advising that socio–economic challenges can be overcome by hard work and curbing extravagance and wastage of resources.
Indian High Commissioner Shri Vanlalhuma said this when he hosted the 67th Indian Republic Day Celebrations at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
He said: “It is our wish and hope that the people of Malawi get maximum benefit from these various assistance projects that we are providing. It is also our hope to see that the country and its leadership would put into practice more concrete austerity measures so that extravagance and wastage become a thing of the past.”
Vanlalhuma expressed joy that Malawi will be among African countries to benefit much from many initiatives and development partnerships derived from India’s proven commitment to strengthen its relations with African countries through increased engagement.
He pointed out that the Third India-Africa Forum Summit his country hosted in New Delhi last October and to which Malawi sent a high-level ministerial delegation, is a celebration of the close partnership between India and Africa.
“A vibrant India and a resurgent Africa have a vision of a close partnership —a partnership that is anchored on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit,” he said.
The envoy pointed out that his government offered significant relief aid after devastating floods in January last year, donated medicines worth $1 million (about K700 million) and also offered tractors and accessorial implements worth $1 million.
He noted that India also continued developing Malawi’s manpower, including through scholarships for Malawians at top Indian universities. Malawi continues to benefit from the Indian lines of credit scheme, which have seen the construction of fuel storage facilities in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu, apart from the construction of a cotton ginning plant in Balaka, he added.
Vanlalhuma noted with joy that Malawi is planning to strengthen its diplomatic mission in India by posting more diplomats there. On its part, he added, India has determined to boost bilatefal commercial interactions by now issuing free business and employment visas to Malawian nationals.
In response, Minister of Industry and Trade Joseph Mwanamvekha saluted India for being one of Malawi’s reliable friends in development, also noting that ties have continued to blossom between ordinary people inthe two countries.
He said President Peter Mutharika wants the warm and historical bilateral relations to be promoted further because as the world’s largest democracy and a country that charted remarkable development despite great challenges, India has lot to teach Malawi.
