APM welcomes Korea, Austria, Kuwait envoys

Malawi President Peter Mutharika today [Wednesday] consolidated Malawi’s desire to have friends across the world, when he received letters of credence from North Korea, Austria and Kuwait at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

Mutharika’s busy afternoon schedule included holding discussions with the new diplomats on how to further strengthen Malawi’s bilateral relations with each of the three countries.

Briefing reporters after presenting his letters of credence, North Korea Ambassador Kim Hyon Il said the discussions centred around North Korean willingness to assist Malawi with a number of development programmes.

“Today, the discussions were largely of a general nature. But soon, both sides will sit down and go into more specifics, which should benefit our people in the two countries,” added the envoy, who is based in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

On his part, Korean Ambassador Harald Gunther, who is based in Nairobi, Kenya, said there is great potential for the growth in the two countries’ ties, particularly because Malawi has great potential of achieving rapid development in several areas.

“For example, there is no doubt that Malawi has the potential for tourism development,” he noted, saying the nation’s fresh lake, captivating topography and the friendly people are assets that can be harnessed for national good.

Among other things, Austria could train workers to help secure a robust tourism industry in Malawi, he stated. He added that his country could also help to secure investors, in the spreading of green technology, like harnessing solar power and biomass, and by training more youths through an active fellowship programme.

And Kuwaiti envoy Ahmed Khalid Al-Jeeran, who is based in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, said during his tenure, he wants the Kuwait Fund, which has given birth to many projects in Malawi, to bankroll many more projects.

Al-Jeeran stated that Kuwait will continue providing Malawi with doctors to work in the country’s hospitals, where there are pressing manpower needs. He added that his nation will help Malawi through its newly-opened charity office in Malawi, particularly in the face of disasters.