Indian High Commissioner Amararan Gujar has urged the Indian community in Malawi to play a key role in advancing Malawi 2063 (MW2063), saying the diaspora remains a key bridge for investment, technology transfer and skills development between the two countries.
The envoy, speaking during a diaspora engagement organised by the High Commission of India in Blantyre on Friday under the theme ‘Role of diaspora in Amrit Kaal’, he said Malawi’s long-term development agenda aligns closely with India’s Vision 2047 also known as Amrit Kaal, which prioritises industrialisation, innovation and inclusive growth.
He said the Indian diaspora has an important role to play in strengthening bilateral cooperation through business, trade, knowledge sharing and technological exchange.
“The Indian diaspora has an important role to play in strengthening the partnership between our two countries through business, trade, knowledge sharing and technology transfer,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Indian business community, Yen Ganatra said Malawi has strong economic potential but requires sustained support, technology and knowledge transfer to unlock inclusive and sustainable growth.
He said India is well -positioned to contribute meaningfully to Malawi’s development trajectory.
“The only thing Malawi needs is support and knowledge from outside. India today is probably one of the best countries in the world to help. If Malawi takes full advantage of the opportunities available, it could become a heaven in Africa,” said Ganatra.
He, however, decried persistent foreign exchange shortages, high inflation, policy inconsistencies and import-related bottlenecks as key challenges undermining investment and limiting business expansion.
Ganatra said addressing these constraints would restore investor confidence, support the expansion of existing enterprises and attract new capital into the country.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri acknowledged the concerns raised by the business community, saying government recognises the critical role of the private sector in driving MW2063.
He said Malawi is implementing a series of reforms aimed at improving the business environment, despite ongoing economic pressures such as foreign exchange shortages, fuel constraints and high public debt.
Phiri further said government has moved to reduce domestic borrowing in order to ease pressure on interest rates and improve access to credit for businesses.
“We realised that excessive government borrowing was driving up interest rates and making it difficult for businesses to borrow. We are addressing that because the private sector is central to the success of Malawi 2063,” he said.
