President Lazarus Chakwera says his administration’s Government-to-Government (G2G) trade relationships with Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will transform the country’s infrastructure in transport and tourism sectors.
Chakwera disclosed this when responding to questions in Parliament after concerns were raised by some parliamentarians on transportation challenges facing the people of Likoma.
Chakwera who earlier brokered G2G trade agreements with Kenya and UAE on fuel importation, said his recent trip to Germany paid dividends as Berlin has responded positively on water transportation infrastructure investment, among others.
Chakwera said: “During my bilateral meetings in Germany, I presented the transportation master plan for port infrastructure and I am glad to report that the Federal Association of Germany Inland Ports officials are expected to visit the country between April and June this year to assess the country’s water transport on how they can assist.”
Chakwera also said the delegation from UAE which visited the country a few weeks ago, has hinted on investing in tourism, a sector whose vast potential would help transform the country under the Agriculture Tourism and Mining strategy.
Chakwera’s remarks came at a time Malawi and Tanzania have signed various agreements that aim at strengthening cooperation between the two countries in areas of trade, security and Information Communication Technology (ICT), among others.
The agreements were signed at the 6th Malawi Tanzania Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation meeting in Lilongwe last week where Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Tembo and her Tanzanian counterpart Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.
In an interview, Tembo said this cooperation is critical to Malawi as Tanzania offers a reliable route to the sea and creates business opportunities to Malawian enterprises venturing in cross border trade.
Tembo said: “Apart from signing these deals, we also have had fruitful discussions that will facilitate other deals in the near future especially in areas of tourism where our Tanzanian counterparts are doing extremely well.”
On his part, Kombo said through the trade agreement, Tanzania will offer Malawi more opportunities to use its ports as well as simplify processes at the border as they eye a One Stop Border Post in the near future.
“These agreements are aimed at strengthening cooperation between our beautiful countries. Tanzania will enable Malawi to fully utilise our port infrastructures while promoting trade partnerships and cross border businesses through Mtwala corridor,” he said
According to Kombo, apart from exchange of convicted prisoners, the security deal will also ensure peace and stability within the borders which could strengthen the business environment to increase economic activity.
Recently, the government secured 20 000 metric tonnes of maize from Tanzania through a G2G arrangement which targets to stabilise maize supply and prices to tame inflation.
