by Durell Namasani
Finance Minister Honourable Joseph Mwanamvekha has engaged senior officials from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in high-level talks aimed at strengthening the development partnership between the two nations. The bilateral meeting, held on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings, focused on securing Saudi support for Malawi’s critical national priorities.
Discussions between the two delegations centred on stabilising Malawi’s fuel supply, improving the availability of foreign exchange, and bolstering food security. Additional areas of cooperation included facilitating access to fertiliser and ensuring the consistent provision of essential medicines for Malawians.
The Saudi delegation was led by their Finance Minister, Mohammed Aljadaan, who also heads the Saudi Mission to the IMF and World Bank. Minister Aljadaan opened the dialogue by congratulating His Excellency President Arthur Peter Mutharika on his electoral victory, describing it as a clear reflection of the trust placed in him by the Malawian people.
Aljadaan reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a deeper collaboration with Malawi, specifically naming the energy, infrastructure development, road construction, and humanitarian sectors as key areas for partnership.
A significant breakthrough was announced regarding the flagship Makanjira Road Project. The Saudi Government confirmed it has granted a no-objection for Malawi’s Roads Authority to sign a consultancy services contract. As the project’s financiers, the Saudi delegation expressed optimism that physical construction would now move forward swiftly and reaffirmed their full support for its successful completion.
In his remarks, Minister Mwanamvekha expressed gratitude for the strong and longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He reiterated Malawi’s commitment to working closely with Saudi counterparts to advance projects that directly address the country’s development needs.
Mwanamvekha further emphasised that, under the leadership of President Mutharika, the Government of Malawi is prioritising economic reforms designed to promote stability, create jobs, and improve the livelihoods of all citizens.
In a gesture of continued diplomatic engagement, the Saudi delegation extended a formal invitation to Malawi’s Ministry of Tourism to participate in the upcoming 26th UN Tourism General Assembly, scheduled for Riyadh in November 2025.
