Denmark reopens consulate in Malawi after 16 years

After a 16-year absence in Malawi, the government of Denmark has reopened a consulate in Lilongwe.
Speaking during the official inauguration of the consulate on Thursday, newly-appointed honorary consul to Malawi, Kristian Moller, described the move as a milestone, saying it will boost the country’s private sector linkages.

“The consulate will focus more on private sector and help in strengthening channels and relationships for economic growth in the country, including for Danish commercial interests,” he said.
Moller, who is also Agriculture Commodity Exchange for Africa (ACE) chief executive officer, further said the re-opening is part of foreign policy strategy by the Danish Government.
“Our focus now is on people migration, security and terrorism and not so much the traditional poverty reduction as has been in the last 30 years and, as part of this shift, the Danish Government wants to strengthen and bring in more partnerships and create new channels for agriculture growth.
“This will be good for Malawi, because more NGOs [non-governmental organisations] and institutions will come into the country with development programs in order to accelerate growth in various departments,” he said.
Chief financial officer at the Royal Danish Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique, Asger Graae, hailed the Malawi Government for the role it played in re-opening of the consulate.
In 2001, Denmark closed its embassy in Lilongwe and withdrew all assistance to Malawi.
The development came after then president Bakili Muluzi criticised donors, accusing them of interfering in African politics by using aid money to influence political trends on the continent. N