India – Malawi Relations
The relations between India and Malawi are cordial and friendly. The two countries hold identical views on many regional, international and multilateral issues. India established diplomatic ties with Malawi in 1964, the yearMalawi gained independence. The diplomatic mission was closed down in May 1993 and was reopened in March 2012 . The High Commissioner Shri Vanlalhuma assumed charge on 21st June 2013 and presented his Credentials to the President of Malawi on 25th June 2013. The current President of Malawi is Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika who was sworn in as the fifth President after May 2014 elections.
Malawi opened its Mission in Delhi in February, 2007. There is considerable goodwill among the Malawian leadership for India.
Exchange of Visits:
Major visits from Malawi:
| 1983 | Dr. H. Kamutzu Banda, the first President of Malawi to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting |
| 2006 | Mr. Davies Katsonga, Minister of Foreign Affaris, May 10-12, 2006. |
| 2008 | Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security for Food Security Conference |
| 2010 | Late Prof.BinguwaMutharika, President of Malawi from November 2-7, 2010 |
| 2011 | Mr. Daniel Liwimbi, Deputy Minister of Development Planning and Cooperation for Ministerial Meeting of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) held in New Delhi from February 18-19, 2011 |
| 2012 | Ms. OtriaJere, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology for the India Africa Science and Technology Ministers Conference from 1-2 March 2012. |
| 2012 | Mr. John Bande, Minister of Industry and Trade and Mr. MahommedSidik Mia, Minister of Transport and Public Infrastructure for the India-Africa Trade Minister’s Conference and 8th CII EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership from 17-20 March 2012. |
| 2012 | Prof. Peter Mwanza, Minister of Agriculture & Food Security and Mr. Ritchie Muheya, Minister of Water & Irrigation from 21- 30 September, 2012 |
Major Visits from India:
| 1964 | Smt. Indira Gandhi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting to participate in celebration of Malawi’s Independence. |
| 1979 | Shri SamrendraKundu, MOS for External Affairs |
| 2010 | Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Hon’ble Vice President of India from 7-9 January, 2010 |
| 2011 | Smt. Preneet Kaur, Hon’ble MOS for External Affairs in May 2011 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister to handover invitation to President BinguwaMutharika to the 2nd India-Africa Forum Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| 2015 | Shri G.M. Siddeshwara, Hon’ble MOS for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in July 2015 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister to hand over invitation to President Peter Mutharika to the 3rd IAFS in New Delhi |
Agreements signed:
• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors (2010)
• Protocol for Consultations between Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malawi and Ministry of External Affairs of India (2010)
• National Small Industries Corporation of India and One Village One Product of Malawi for cooperation in the development of small scale enterprises in Malawi (2010)
• General Cooperation Agreement (2010)
• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Mineral Resources Development (2010)
• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Rural Development (2010)
• MOU on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine (2010)
Economic & Commercial:
Bilateral Trade:
The trade figures for the period 2006-2015 between India and Malawi
(Figures in US$ Million)
| S.No | Year | India’s Export to Malawi | India’s Imports from Malawi | Total Trade |
| 1 | 2006-07 | 42.56 | 5.07 | 47.63 |
| 2 | 2007-08 | 64.34 | 15.64 | 79.98 |
| 3 | 2008-09 | 89.38 | 7.08 | 96.46 |
| 4 | 2009-10 | 81.36 | 103.76 | 185.12 |
| 5 | 2010-11 | 101.34 | 19.89 | 121.23 |
| 6 | 2011-12 | 148.26 | 19.97 | 168.23 |
| 7 | 2012-13 | 153.3 | 43.11 | 196.41 |
| 8 | 2013-14 | 221 | 15.15 | 236.15 |
| 9 | 2014-15 | 214.02 | 36.78 | 250.8 |
Major export commodities from Malawi to India are: pulses, chickpeas and other agricultural commodities. Malawi’s major import commodities from India are: textile yarns, fabrics, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, machinery and equipment.
Indian investment:
Indian companies in Malawi are engaged in agro processing, chemicals, energy, financial service & insurance, food processing, Information Technology & software development, logistics, textile, cosmetics & pharmaceuticals, mining, manufacturing, S.No. Year India’s Export to Malawi India’s Imports from Malawi Total Trade 1 2006-07 42.56 5.07 47.63 2 2007-08 64.34 15.64 79.98 3 2008-09 89.38 7.08 96.46 4 2009-10 81.36 103.76 185.12 5 2010-11 101.34 19.89 121.23 6 2011-12 148.26 19.97 168.23 7 2012-13 153.30 43.11 196.41 8 2013-14 221.00 15.15 236.15 9 2014-15 214.02 36.78 250.80 hotel & hospitality etc. The prominent ones are Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Hi Tos Linear Agency Pvt Ltd, Weismann Ltd, TATA, Mahindra, Godrej, Kirloskar, Ashok Leyland, TVS etc. In 2012, M/s Dhunseri Petrochem & Tea Ltd (DPTL) invested in Tea Estates in Malawi. To promote trade and investment from India, the Malawi High Commission has opened a business centre in Surat, Gujarat on 16th October 2013.
Lines of Credit /Grant Assistance:
Since 2008, the Government of India has extended Line of Credit (LOC) worth US$ 180 million to Malawi Government for various infrastructure development projects like cotton ginneries, petroleum storage tanks, sugar processing plant, green belt initiative and agriculture machinery. Other financial assistance to Malawi included grant of one crore (US$ 0.2mn) in 2008 towards flood relief and a grant of US$ 5 mn for setting up of capacity building projects.
Under a grant of US $ 5 million offered during the visit of Vice President of India to Malawi in January 2010, Science & Laboratory equipment worth US$ 1.5 million and medical equipment worth US$ 1.5 million consisting of mammography machines and ultra-sound have been handed over to Malawi government. US$1 million worth of essential medicines and drugs were handed over on 1st July 2015 and US$1 million worth of tractors and implements supplied by the Government of India are to be handed over shortly.
Under the Government of India’s Pan African e-network project, VVIP Video Conferencing facility at the New State House, Tele-medicine facility at the Kamuzu Central Hosptial, and Tele-education facilities at the Chancellor College, Zomba, have been made functional. The project was inaugurated through video-conferencing at the Chancellor College, Zomba on August 16, 2010 by Shri S M Krishna, External Affairs Minister of India and Mr. SymonVuwa Kaunda, Minister of Information and Civic Education of Malawi. The Chancellor College held its first graduation ceremony for elearning students on 14 December 2012 and the second one in December 2013 and third in April 2015. More than 2,000 Malawians have benefited under this programme.
India is also becoming a major destination for medical tourism from sub-Saharan region. A number of Malawians visit India for Advanced Medical Treatment in Indian hospitals.
Human Resource Development:
India is assisting Malawi in the field of capacity building through its ITEC programme and ICCR scholarships. The ITEC slots started as 10 in 2007-08 was increased to 60 in 2012-13 and to 65 in 2015-16. 52 slots in 2014-15 and 3 slots between April and July 2015. From 2007-08 to 2014-15, over 300 Malawians have availed of ITEC civilian training programme in India. Golden Jubilee of ITEC was celebrated in the Mission on December 5, 2014. Malawi is also utilizing the ICCR scholarships for long term courses. The number of scholarships has been increased from 10 to 15 in the year 2015-16. So far 9 slots have been utilised. In addition, Malawi is utilizing the training programmes conducted under IAFS and special agricultural scholarships, CV Raman fellowships etc. Opening of mission in Lilongwe has increased the participation of candidates from Malawi.The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi conducted a specialised Executive Development Programme in International Business in Lilongwe in collaboration with the Malawi Institute of Management in December 2014.
Cultural Relations:
A 10-member Rajasthani dance troupe led by MeruSapera sponsored by ICCR visited Malawi in April 2014 and performed in Lilongwe and Blantyre. A fusion music team led by Murad Ali sponsored by ICCR visited Malawi in October 2014 and performed at the Blantyre Arts Festival in Blantyre.
Indian Community/PIO:
There are about 9000 Persons of Indian origin in Malawi who originated from Gujarat and are concentrated in important cities like Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu. The number of Indian nationals is about 2500 from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and are primarily engaged in trading, agriculture & agro business and Pharmaceutical retail business, hospitality, besides a few professionals.
Note: Content for this article provided by IAFS.in
India – Malawi Relations
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