By Cedric Nkungula

President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has arrived in New York, United States of America ahead of the 78th United General Assembly (UNGA) Conference.

The Malawi leader, who is accompanied by the First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera and other dignitaries was warmly welcomed by Malawi’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Dr. Agnes Chimbiri Molande, Ambassador for United States of America to Malawi Esmie Chombo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo, Malawi Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Lieutenant General Clement Namangale (Rtd) among others.

President Chakwera who is expected to address the 78th United Nation General assembly and deliver the Malawi national statement on 21st September 2023 will highlight the setbacks on global progress, poverty and food insecurity, which is worsening amid the ongoing Russia – Ukraine war, inflation, the high cost of living and the way humanitarian needs are escalating in scale and cost.

The Malawi leader is scheduled to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit meeting, the Millennium Challenge Compact meetings, Malawi Partners conference as well as the African Investment meeting among others.

In his address, President Chakwera is expected to call for National Support towards Malawi efforts to build economic resilience against future exogenous shocks and keep Malawi on the track to become a middle-income economy by the year 2030.

The Malawi leader is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings with some other heads of state, organizations and business leaders, all geared towards mobilizing resources for Malawi post-cyclone reconstruction and recovery as well as private investment.

The 2023 SDG Summit will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the sustainable Development Goals with high level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030.

On the sidelines of the UN conference, the First Lady, Madame Monica Chakwera will also hold several meetings in which she is expected to engage with other first ladies and heads of international organizations where she will be advocating for support and exploring avenues for international support for development in Malawi.

Malawi stands to benefit a lot at this global gathering as it will bring opportunities to establish more connections with other world leaders and heads of various organization to finding solutions considering the economic hardships Malawi and the global world is currently facing.

The summit will also mark the half way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and also respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope for 2030.