By Burnett Munthali
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has arrived in Abuja, Nigeria, to participate in the 32nd African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank) Annual Meetings, scheduled to take place from 25th to 27th June.
He joins fellow African and Caribbean Heads of State and Government, development partners, and global financial thought leaders at one of the continent’s most highly anticipated gatherings.
The AFREXIM Bank Annual Meetings serve as a major platform for high-level policy discussions on matters crucial to the social and economic advancement of Africa.
Upon his arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, President Chakwera was warmly received by Nigerian Chief of Protocol Ibrahim Agumbi.
He was accompanied by First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera and Malawi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nancy Tembo, alongside other senior government officials.
During the summit, President Chakwera is expected to engage in bilateral talks with global leaders to strengthen partnerships aligned with Malawi’s development priorities.
These talks will focus particularly on key sectors such as Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining, as well as other supporting areas vital to Malawi’s economic transformation.
Among the scheduled engagements, President Chakwera will hold talks with His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He will also meet with Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFREXIM Bank, to discuss collaboration on Malawi’s economic initiatives.
Further engagements with other prominent African leaders will center on promoting investment opportunities in Malawi and deepening continental cooperation.
The theme for this year’s summit, “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience”, underscores Africa’s achievements over the past thirty years.
It also emphasizes the critical steps the continent must take to navigate an increasingly complex and evolving global landscape.
Afreximbank, a Pan-African multilateral financial institution, is tasked with financing, facilitating, and promoting both intra- and extra-African trade.
For more than three decades, the bank has developed innovative financial instruments to support structural transformation in Africa’s trade landscape.
Its mission includes accelerating industrialization and boosting intra-regional trade across the continent.
In Malawi, AFREXIM Bank has played a key role in supporting economic growth and industrial development.
Among its significant contributions is a landmark US$100 million Trade Finance Facilitation Facility agreement signed with the National Bank of Malawi (NBM).
This facility is designed to support trade transactions in crucial sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and agriculture, reinforcing Malawi’s efforts to build a robust and diversified economy.
