Chilima invites Israeli water experts to Malawi

Malawi Vice-president Saulos Chilima on Wednesday invited Israeli water experts to come and appreciate investment opportunities in water and irrigation ventures in this country.

Chilima extended the invitation after inspecting Israeli Mekorot National Water Carrier plants in Galilee.

He described the Israel water technologies as amazing and serious and that Malawi could benefit with such technologies.

“I’m speechless. I think the best way is for you to come to Malawi first and appreciate what we have and perhaps from there we can begin telling the story together,” said Chilima at the end of the water plant inspection.

In his response, one of the Israeli Mekorot National Water Carrier officials, Romen Wolfman, said the company is proud of its water and irrigation technologies and eager to share the expertise.

With new technologies in water and irrigation, Israel is able to produce $5 billion worth of export products.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Allan Chiyembekeza, who is part of the delegation Chilima is leading to Israel, also hailed the Israeli Water Management System.

He said with commitment and determination like that of the Israeli, Malawi can achieve it.

“We need to mobilise our resources as a country. It is achievable as long as we work hard and together, employing new technologies,” he said.

Already, Malawi Mangoes, an Israeli company, is growing mangoes in Salima using new irrigation technologies, a development Chiyembekeza described as a step ahead towards achieving Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

—KONDWANI MAGOMBO is with the VP In Tel Aviv, Israel