India celebrates Republic Day

The Indian High Commissioner Shri Gopalakrishnan has pledged his government commitment to help Malawi.

He said this on Wednesday in Lilongwe during celebrations to mark India’s 73rd Republic Day.

The envoy said India will continue to support Malawi with its development needs in a mutual diplomatic understanding.

Gopalakrishnan said India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Malawi; hence, the commitment to sustain long-standing relations.

He said: “The multifaceted relations between the two countries have witnessed a steady growth during these 68 years, characterised by goodwill, mutual respect and understanding.

“India’s development partnership with Malawi is always guided by the simple principle that is, to work on Malawi’s priorities. India and Malawi are strengthened by a strong sense of economic potential for the future.”

Gopalakrishnan  said Malawi and India relations have over the years grown with high level diplomatic visits and agreements between the two government that have seen several fruitful memorandum of understanding  (MoU) and development support.

“We have supported Malawi in various ways including the Salima Sugar Factory investment, the business incubation centre at Mponela, construction of fuel storage tanks and 50 annual higher education scholarships,” he said.

Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara, who represented the government, described the Indian Republic Day as significant in the history of the country, as India adopted and enacted a constitution guided by core values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

She said: “The constitution does not only guarantee a democratic nation, but it is also a scripture for social and economic transformation.

“This celebration today is a testament of India’s thriving democracy, a fast-growing major economy and a hub of information technology”.

Hara said the Government of Malawi looks forward to continuing cooperation with the Government of India through existing agreements and MoUs in the areas of diplomacy, political consultations, agriculture, health, information and communication technology, mining and rural development, among others.

She said this is in the quest to meet the aspirations of the two countries’ social-economic transformative agenda.