LILONGWE-(MANA)-The country’s social-economic experts  have  hailed  the participation of President Lazarus Chakwera’s at the Unites States (US) Africa Business Summit in Dallas and  at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, saying  it will help boost the countrys economy and improve the the livelihoods of Malawians.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), renowned Political and Socio-Economic Commentator, Humphreys Mvula, said the Millennium Challenge Corporation-MCC Compact 2  initiative is likely to transform the transportation sector by constructing roads, which will create a conducive environment in tourism, agriculture, and mining sectors, resulting in job creation for the people.

“The trip taken by President Chakwera looks very promising in the process of amplifying and implementing the ATM strategy, which he is spearheading to revamp the country’s economy.

Through the initiative we should expect a number of both white and blue collar workers to be employed resulting in wealth creation among Malawians” said Mvula

He commended President Chakwera for his continued efforts in mobilising resources to ensure the livelihoods of Malawians are taken care of.

Mvula  insisted on the need for Malawians to rally behind President Chakwera to make Malawi a transformative nation through various development initiatives.

Executive Director for the Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency (CSAT), Willy Kambwandira, expressed his appreciation for the outstanding progress of the project and has urged President Chakwera to ensure that the projects are successfully implemented.

Kambwandira also expressed his optimism for positive results from the trip and said he  looks forward to seeing the fruits of their labour.

In his remarks, Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu said Malawi’s recent participation in the US-Africa Business Summit witnessed the launch of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Transportation and Land Compact worth $350 million during MCC’s 20th Anniversary Tribute Dinner.

“The compact, which will focus on the country’s transportation infrastructure and land productivity, aligns with Malawi’s Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) Strategy and Malawi’s development blueprint, the Malawi 2063 Vision” said kunkuyu.

He stated the compact which will significantly bolster critical infrastructure projects in the country, including road upgrades in key agriculture, tourism and mining areas, is poised to enhance the transportation of goods and services, to boost trade, tourism, investment and economic growth.

He indicated that through the $244,950,000 Accelerated Growth Corridors (AGC) Project, the compact will help Malawi address transportation challenges for agricultural commodities from farm to market.

The project will also help to create a transparent and competitive environment for transporters among other things. This will stimulate more agro-economic activities in these corridors and boost agriculture commercialisation in the country.

He also disclosed that the American Catalyst Facility for Development (ACFD) Project of the compact is also set to bolster investment in the country.

He said the project is designed to facilitate United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) investment in Malawi to catalyse private investment in the country.

Additionally, through the Increased Land Productivity Project worth over 44 million dollars, the compact will support efforts to improve land use and management. The project will help citizens to utilise land efficiently as well as improve agricultural productivity.

Kunkuyu said that Malawian companies will also benefit from the compact for they have the opportunity to participate in the projects. This will both improve local companies’ financial standing and job creation in the country.

He said President Chakwera’s attendance at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Kenya also yielded unprecedented results for agriculture in the country. On the sidelines of the summit, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) assured President Chakwera of 45 million dollars to support agricultural productivity, enhancing fertilizer and soil health. The investment will significantly address Malawi’s food security challenges and boost socioeconomic development.

Kunkuyu further said that the MCC, AGRA and other agreements that Malawi has made during the two summits will have a transformative impact on the country’s development agenda.

The agreements will help Malawi improve its transportation infrastructure and agriculture productivity, springboarding Malawi into a more self-sufficient nation.

On arrival on Friday from the USA and Kenya  President Chakwera announced the launch of the US$350 million MCC Compact 2 and various agreements the Malawi delegation made with investors on the sidelines of these two summits.

TEXAS-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera says a better railway network has the potential to transform the transportation sector through the reduction of costs of transporting goods and services.

Chakwera made the remarks during a meeting with executive management of All American Rail Group (AARG) on Monday, May 6, 2024 on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit in Dallas, Texas, a consortium involved in advancing rail, infrastructure, and agriculture projects in the United States and Africa.

The Malawi leader said that a better rail network will help to reduce transport costs, lower commodity prices, and increase profits for the producers terminating from transport cost cuts.

“Today’s discussion marks the beginning of a long-term transformative partnership between the Malawi Government and AARG, which has the potential to revolutionize Malawi’s economy,” Chakwera said.

According to Chakwera, revamping Malawi’s railway network has been a top priority for his administration since he took over the presidency in 2020 and it was pleasing that AARG executives have shown interest in investing in this sector.

“My administration is urging commercial farmers to bring idle land back into production through the mega farm initiatives. We need local and international markets for these crops and a functional railway system is necessary,” adds Chakwera.

He went on to say that Malawi’s Transport Master Plan has mapped out corridors to extend and rehabilitate the rail to facilitate the flow of agricultural products to urban, regional, and export markets.

The AARG Consortium was established in November 2022 and comprises of recognized firms specializing in railway design, engineering, construction, and management.

With a substantial turnover exceeding $19.7 billion over the past five years and a proven track record of managing significant projects across continents, AARG brings invaluable expertise to Malawi’s rail development ambitions.

TEXAS-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera says collective responsibility and collaboration in driving the development of Malawi was important.

Addressing over 100 Malawians from Dallas, Texas and its environs on Sunday evening, Chakwera stressed the vital role that every Malawian, including those living abroad, plays in the nation’s progress.

“One person cannot fulfill the vision of the country if there is no collective responsibility. We need all hands on deck,” said President Chakwera, stressing the significance of unity and concerted efforts towards national development.

He encouraged the Malawian diaspora community to actively participate in addressing the challenges facing the nation, highlighting the potential for collaboration in finding solutions to prevalent issues.

“You and I have a job. We need to challenge ourselves. We need to challenge our peers, and from what I have heard from you, shows you can. So together, we can find solutions to all the things that are bothering us at the moment,” said the President.

Furthermore, President Chakwera stressed the urgency of action, stating, “To me, the time for playing games is long gone. We need to fix our country. It’s not enough to feel sorry for ourselves. We got to work hard and work smart.”

He assured the diaspora community that the government was committed to creating an enabling environment for investment, including implementing legal reforms to alleviate concerns about potential financial risks associated with such investment.

The Malawi leader, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda, Minister of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe among other cabinet ministers, reiterated the call for unity and collaboration, emphasising that collective efforts are essential for realizing Malawi’s developmental goals.

The gathering served as a platform for dialogue and engagement between the Malawian diaspora and the government, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and commitment to the nation’s progress.

Chakwera is in the United States of America to participate in the US-Africa Summit whose objective is to foster sustainable business partnerships between the U.S. and Africa.

TEXAS-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has underlined the urgent need for the country to break free from the shackles of poverty through strategic investments.

Speaking during the Malawi-Texas Business Roundtable on Sunday, May 5, 2024 Chakwera emphasized the significance of attracting investors who prioritise sustainable development over exploitation.

“Malawi needs to get out of the poverty trap but only with trusted investors who are not interested in exploiting Malawi,” said President Chakwera during the event organised by Time to Revive, in Dallas, Texas, on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit.

The President expressed gratitude to Dr. Martin, a key figure in organising the roundtable, for his consistent support towards Malawi’s development agenda.

Touting Malawi’s potential, President Chakwera welcomed a diverse group of business leaders keen on exploring investment opportunities in priority sectors to Malawi’s growth Malawi’s dubbed ATM Strategy (Agriculture, Tourism and Mining).

“I have convened this Business Roundtable to provide a platform for you to present your companies and portfolios to my officials,” he said while emphasising his administration’s commitment to facilitating a conducive environment for investment.

Under the ATM strategy, Malawi prioritises cooperation and investment in increasing productivity through commercialisation and digitisation, enhancing value through industrialisation and promoting sustainability through climate-smart business practices.

President Chakwera said Malawi is actively collaborating with regional partners to facilitate access to emerging markets through its membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

President Chakwera expressed optimism that the roundtable discussions, which attracted big companies in agriculture, oil and gas and media among others, would pave the way for mutually beneficial partnerships, driving sustainable economic growth and development in Malawi.

In his remarks, Dr. Martin, Founder of Time to Revive, expressed excitement about the Malawian leader’s emphasis on mindset change as a fundamental aspect of realizing the Malawi 2063 vision.

“We are here to explore avenues to further our partnership in realising the Malawi 2063 Vision. Mr. President, know that you have a dedicated team here in America ready to collaborate with you,” said Martin.

“We pray in Jesus’s name that the gold, diamonds and other minerals will be revealed in Malawi to benefit the people,” he said.