By Linda Kwanjana

Malawi President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has left Malawi for Saud Arabia where he is destined to attend Saudi-Africa Summit.

Addressing the press at Kamuzu International, President Dr Chakwera said Malawi desires and dreams is to achieve a self reliant nation. He said his vision is to achieve Malawi grow, grow and grow.

Said Chakwera: “You look at what I am going to Saudi Arabia for, primarily the Makanjira road, that area is extremely rich not just for agriculture; it can also be used for tourism and mining as well. We are talking about the ATM strategy, for immediate results, this is a significant roadmap helping us towards 2063.”

Chakwera said trade in Africa is extremely needed at this stage and that there is need to trade more so that the country does not rely on aid.

The president said to do that “We have to produce quality products. We want to look at all this in light of our vision and see that this country can be propelled to exponential growth because of deliberate steps that we are talking.”

Chakwera departed for Saudi Arabia via Kamuzu International Airport. The primary purpose of his visit is to attend the inaugural Saudi–Africa Summit in Riyadh on the 10th and 11th of November.

The summit holds significant promise as it offers an opportunity for Malawi to strengthen its diplomatic and economic relations with Saudi Arabia. This engagement comes at a crucial time when both nations seek to strengthen their collaboration in various fields.

On the sidelines of the Summit, President Chakwera is slated to hold bilateral meetings with various stakeholders. These discussions are anticipated to explore opportunities for collaboration and investments between Malawi and Saudi Arabia in key sectors.

The President will have a significant interface with His Excellency Sultan Al Marshad, the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund. During this interaction, the President is expected to sign and finalize an agreement pertaining to the Makanjira road project.

Following his engagements in Saudi Arabia, President Chakwera will proceed to Egypt to attend an Intra Africa Trade Fair organized by the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank) in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat.

The trade fair serves as a vital platform for African countries to engage in discussions regarding the establishment of an integrated African market for goods and services.